Engines (book) facts for kids
Cover of Engines
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| Author | L. Sprague de Camp |
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| Illustrator | Jack Coggins |
| Cover artist | Lowell Hess |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Engineering |
| Publisher | Golden Press |
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Publication date
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1959 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 56 pp |
Engines: Man's Use of Power, from the Water Wheel to the Atomic Pile is an exciting science book written for young people. It was created by L. Sprague de Camp and features cool illustrations by Jack Coggins. Golden Press first published this book in 1959. Later, a new version came out in 1961, and a softcover edition was released in 1969. This popular book has been translated into many languages, including Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Portuguese, and German.
This book explores how humans have learned to use different kinds of power over time. It covers everything from ancient water wheels to modern atomic energy. It's a great way to learn about the amazing machines that help power our world!
Contents
Understanding Engines and Power
This book is all about "Man's use of power, from the water wheel to the atomic pile." It explains how engines work and how they have changed our lives.
What is an Engine?
An engine is a machine that takes energy and turns it into useful motion or force. Think of it as a device that helps us do work. Engines make cars move, planes fly, and even generate electricity for our homes.
Putting Energy to Work
Energy is the ability to do work. Engines are designed to capture different forms of energy, like the movement of water, the heat from burning fuel, or even the power inside tiny atoms. They then change this energy into something we can use.
The First Engines
Long ago, people used simple tools and their own muscles to do work. But they soon discovered ways to get help from nature. The very first "engines" were simple machines that used natural forces.
Water and Wind Power
Some of the earliest ways humans used power were with water and wind.
- Water Wheels: These large wheels used the flow of rivers to turn machinery. They helped grind grain into flour or power sawmills.
- Windmills: Similar to water wheels, windmills used the force of the wind to turn blades. They were used for pumping water or grinding grain.
The Age of Steam Engines
Steam engines were a huge step forward in how we used power. They kicked off the Industrial Revolution!
Early Steam Engines
The first practical steam engines were developed in the 1700s. They used boiling water to create steam, which then pushed parts of the engine. These early machines were often used to pump water out of mines.
How a Steam Engine Works
A steam engine works by heating water to create high-pressure steam. This steam is then directed into a cylinder, where it pushes a piston. The moving piston turns a crankshaft, which creates rotary motion. This motion can then power wheels, pumps, or other machinery.
Steam Turbines
Later, engineers invented steam turbines. Instead of pushing a piston back and forth, steam turbines use steam to spin a set of blades, much like a windmill. These are very efficient and are often used today to generate electricity in power plants.
Internal-Combustion Engines
Internal-combustion engines are different because they burn fuel *inside* the engine itself. This is what powers most cars, motorcycles, and many airplanes.
Otto Cycle Engines
Most car engines use something called the Otto cycle. This involves four steps:
- Intake: Fuel and air enter the engine.
- Compression: The fuel and air mix are squeezed.
- Power: A spark plug ignites the mix, causing a small explosion that pushes a piston.
- Exhaust: The used gases are pushed out.
Two-Stroke Cycle Engines
Some smaller engines, like those in lawnmowers or chainsaws, use a two-stroke cycle. This is simpler than the Otto cycle, completing the process in just two movements of the piston.
Diesel Engines
Diesel engines are another type of internal-combustion engine. They don't use spark plugs. Instead, they compress the air so much that it gets hot enough to ignite the fuel automatically. Diesel engines are known for being powerful and fuel-efficient, often used in trucks, buses, and trains.
Gas Turbines
Gas turbines are like jet engines. They suck in air, compress it, mix it with fuel, and burn it. The hot, expanding gases then spin a turbine. These are used in jet planes and also to generate electricity.
Rockets
Rockets are special engines that carry their own fuel and oxygen. They work by expelling hot gases very quickly out of a nozzle, which pushes the rocket in the opposite direction. This is how spacecraft travel into space!
Electric Power and Motors
Electricity is a very clean and versatile way to power engines.
Electric Motors
An electric motor turns electrical energy into mechanical motion. They work using magnets. When electricity flows through coils of wire inside the motor, it creates magnetic fields that push and pull, making the motor spin. You find electric motors in everything from electric cars to washing machines and fans.
Electric Generators and Power Systems
Just as motors turn electricity into motion, generators do the opposite: they turn motion into electricity. Large generators in power plants use steam turbines, gas turbines, or even water power (like in dams) to spin coils of wire, creating electricity that is sent to our homes and schools.
Atomic Engines
The book also looks at the most powerful engines: those that use atomic energy.
How a Reactor Works
Atomic engines, or nuclear reactors, use the energy released when tiny atoms are split apart (a process called nuclear fission). This process creates a lot of heat, which is used to boil water and create steam. This steam then drives turbines to generate electricity, just like in a regular power plant. Atomic engines are used in nuclear power plants and some submarines.
