When you drive an automobile, several energy transformations take place. Initially, fuel, typically gasoline or diesel, is stored in the fuel tank. This fuel contains chemical energy. When the engine runs, the fuel undergoes combustion, transforming this chemical energy into thermal energy (heat).
This thermal energy increases the temperature and pressure of the gases in the engine’s cylinders, causing them to expand. As this expansion occurs, it pushes the pistons down, converting thermal energy into mechanical energy. This mechanical energy is then transmitted through the drivetrain, turning the wheels of the car.
As the wheels turn, the mechanical energy is converted into kinetic energy, which is the energy of motion. The automobile then moves forward, demonstrating the transformation from stored chemical energy in the fuel to kinetic energy of the car on the road.
Additionally, there are some losses during these transformations. Friction in the engine and drivetrain generates heat, which represents energy that is not effectively used for propulsion. Furthermore, when brakes are applied, kinetic energy is converted into thermal energy through friction, slowing the vehicle down.
In summary, driving an automobile involves a series of energy transformations: from chemical energy in fuel to thermal energy in the engine, then to mechanical energy in the drivetrain, and finally to kinetic energy of the moving car, while accounting for some energy losses along the way.