Body Types

There are five common body styles for light weight passenger vehicles, the main purpose of these is to provide comfort and safety for those inside as well as being a load bearing structure. Most cars are made by 'Unitary Construction' (chassis-less) with all the components assembled within.This means cars can be mass produced, often with...

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Alternator Diode

The alternator is a form of generator. When the engine runs, this generator provides electrically energy to charge the cars battery. This provides electrical energy for the electrical systems within the vehicle as well as keeping the battery fully charged. (a Dynamo generator is used occasionally but an alternator is fitted in most common vehicles.) The generator must change the mechanical (kinetic) energy into electrical energy.In...

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Four Stroke Engine

Animation of a four stroke cycleA four stroke engine is the most common internal combustion engine of modern times. It uses a spark ignition system which is very similar to the compression ignition in a diesel engine. The 'four - stroke' is so called as it applies driving power and supplies force through four 'strokes' which, amongst other...

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