Chapter 6, Problem 16TE

An automobile engine runs on compressed air. This means no pollution in the vicinity of the car. Does it also mean no energy is required? (Hint: Is energy required to compress air? )

To determine

Whether the energy is necessary or not, for an automobile engine run on the compressed air.

Answer to Problem 16TE

The energy is necessary for the working of an automobile engine and the pollution occurs in the vicinity of the car.

Explanation of Solution

The automobile engine works on the four processes. First is suction in which the air is sucked inside the engine. Second is the compression of the air. Third is the combustion of the fuel and fourth is the exhaust. The chemical energy of the fuel converts to mechanical energy in the combustion. The mechanical energy is further converted to the work that runs the automobile.

The automobile cannot only run on the compressed air because the work to run the automobile comes from the chemical energy of the fuel. The gasses released in the exhaust pollute the surrounding, so the pollution may not be in the vicinity of the car, but happens in the surrounding.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the energy is necessary for the working of an automobile engine and the pollution occurs in the vicinity of the car.