Energy

Front

External Combustion Engine Noun

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[ek-stur-nl kuhm-buhs-chn en-jin]

Back

External Combustion Engine

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An engine that generates heat and power by burning fuel outside of the engine's main body.

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Example: This diagram shows how steam, heated by an external source, pushes a piston. This movement turns a flywheel, converting the steam's thermal energy into mechanical work.

Front

Internal Combustion Engine Noun

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[in-tur-nl kuhm-buhs-chn en-jin]

Back

Internal Combustion Engine

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A heat engine where fuel combustion occurs inside a chamber that is part of the engine's working fluid circuit.

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Example: This diagram shows a cross-section of an internal combustion engine, labeling key parts like the piston and crankshaft that convert fuel energy into motion.

Front

Stroke Noun

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[strohk]

Back

Stroke

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In an engine, the full travel of the piston along the cylinder in either direction.

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Example: This diagram shows the exhaust stroke in an engine, where the piston moves up to push waste gases out, a key step in converting fuel energy.

Front

Crankshaft Noun

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[krank-shaft]

Back

Crankshaft

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A rotating shaft which converts the reciprocating motion of the pistons into rotational motion.

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Example: This diagram shows how a crankshaft converts the back-and-forth (linear) motion of pistons into spinning (rotational) motion, transferring energy within an engine.

Front

Coolant Noun

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[koo-luhnt]

Back

Coolant

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A fluid which flows through a device to prevent overheating by transferring heat away from it.

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Example: This image shows a car's radiator system, where coolant circulates to absorb heat energy from the engine and release it into the air.

Front

Regenerative Braking Noun

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[ri-jen-er-uh-tiv brey-king]

Back

Regenerative Braking

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An energy recovery mechanism that slows a vehicle by converting its kinetic energy into a storable or usable form.

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Example: During braking, an electric car's motor reverses its function, converting the car's motion (kinetic energy) back into electrical energy to recharge the battery.

Front

Convection Noun

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[kuhn-vek-shn]

Back

Convection

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The movement of heat by the actual motion of matter, such as the movement of heated parts of a fluid.

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Example: This diagram shows how the sun heats the land, causing less dense warm air to rise and denser cool air from the sea to sink and move in, creating a convection current.

Front

Conduction Noun

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[kuhn-duhk-shn]

Back

Conduction

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The process by which heat energy is transmitted through collisions between neighboring atoms or molecules.

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Example: This diagram shows that heat energy naturally flows from a hot object to a cold object, which is the principle of conduction.

Front

Radiation Noun

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[rey-dee-ey-shn]

Back

Radiation

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The emission or transmission of energy as waves or particles through space or a material medium.

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Example: This diagram shows the electromagnetic spectrum, where radiation is energy traveling as waves. It ranges from high-energy, short waves (Gamma rays) to low-energy, long waves (Radio waves).

Front

Heat Pump Noun

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[heet pump]

Back

Heat Pump

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A device that transfers heat from a colder area to a hotter area by using mechanical energy.

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Example: This diagram shows how a heat pump moves thermal energy from the cold outdoors to the inside of a house, using a compressor and refrigerant.