2009 C2S 132K miles

Well engineers? Which is it? What is in our cars?

Peace
Bruce in Philly

 

https://engineering.mit.edu/engage/a...and-an-engine/

 

Mechanically speaking, an engine is a motor but a motor is not necessarily and engine.

 

I always equate motors to electric and engines to internal combustion...but it probably doesn't since we all know what you're talking about anyway.

 

A motor has an external power source.

 

So do engines. Energy is stored in the form of fuel( external source) and through a chemical reaction ( combustion) yields mechanical energy and motion. With an electric motor, energy sis stored in a battery, flywheel or coming from another source such as a generator. The electricity is used to create magnetic fields ( even if permanent magnets are used in the motor) which yield mechanical energy and motion.

 

Your blender has a motor. Your 911 has an engine, I think........
https://engineering.mit.edu/engage/a...and-an-engine/

 

Ford Motor Company and Ford Engine Company are not necessarily the same thing...

 

I use them interchangeably. Generraly, when I was in college studying engineering, I referred to motors in the electrical context, and engines with respect to gas powered vehicles.

 

It's called the Internal Combustion Engine

 

Both. Either. A car engine uses fuel. A rocket motor uses fuel. Motor boat. Motor oil. Motor City, not Engine City.

 

I've been looking for the solution to a similar conundrum; should I say a dozen or 12? Any help would be appreciated.

 

I was taught that both turn energy into motion, but the fuel is converted to energy externally with a motor and internally with an engine. Made sense to me.

Whether or not someone uses two words jnterchangeably doesn't have any impact on whether or not they are using them correctly. Most people use "wheel" and "tire" interchangeably, too. Doesn't make them right.

 

Strictly speaking, from a thermodynamics perspective, Diesel, Otto cycle, two cycle, jet engines, Sterling engines and steam engines ( other examples, anyone?) are referred to as heat engines. Steam engines and Sterling engines are not internal combustion engines but are heat engines. Heat engines generally transfer heat energy into mechanical energy. This is not the case with electric motors. Additionally, when an electric motor is fuel by a fuel cell, it is still not an engine. The fuel cell converts fuel ( often hydrogen with oxygen) energy into electrical energy which can feed a battery of electric motor.

 

It's a semantics issue. Both ICE and electrical motors are engines, because an engine is a device that converts energy (of various types) into mechanical energy. But it also is a geographical difference - in the US people talk about car engines and electric motors. In the UK cars equipped with ICE engines are (or used to be) called motors as in motor cars. In French, Italian and other Latin-based languages the word motor is used to identify ICEs.