A diesel engine has a motor. A car has a motor. Ships have motors that are called steam engines, or diesel engines. A steam engine, IS an engine. An airplane engine is a motor. If I pedal a bike, am I an engine, or a motor?
Watash, That's a doozy of a head-scratcher there, now you bein' full of hot air an all, I'd say you are a steam engine.... Nah, just kiddin' ol' son, on the other paw, you could just as easily be a motor....one thing I know for sure, seeing you peddlin a bicycle would make your missus laugh so hard you'd both wind up in the hospital!!! At your age, I'd stick with the golf cart! 2slim
OOPs forgot to add something. I believe that the term 'engine' refers to a power source that utilizes 'internal combustion' where as a motor does not. A diesel locomotive is unique as it has both an 'engine' and 'motors' A steam locomotive is an 'engine'. So if my anology is correct, Watash is a motor! 2slim
Engine and Motor are pretty much synonyms. You can use them interchangably. The biggest difference is that an engine generally uses a fuel eg coal, gas where as a motor doesn't have to like a friction motor where you wind it up and let it go.
I take a diesel engine, as an "engine" being it has motors....... I take steam as neither of the 2 "engine" or "motor".. I take steam as a locomotive..... My explanation..... [ 04. November 2002, 06:49: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
If you are peddling a bike you are definately a motor as you are exerting motive force upon the pedals. However, your body is the engine as it is providing the necessary power for you to exert motive force. That would make your legs the transmission and your ankles universal couplings. Your heart the fuel pump and your lungs the carburetor. Just stay away from that exhaust Wayne!!! Russ
Don't remember where I read something vaguely familiar on this topic.(Pretty sure it wasn't something I wrote myself): Motor is derived from "motion", and used to only refer to an electrical or hydraulic device. An external source had to provide the basic energy to power a motor..a generator or hydraulic pump powered by yet ANOTHER outside source.The motor then transformed this basic energy into rotational motion. Engine is derived from "energy". An engine is any machine that converts an element, a raw material, a substance or another source of energy,or combination if some of these, into a measurable (and reasonably sustainable) amount of power generation.It does this internally, without a previous machine "pre-generating" any of the power. Examples are steam, internal combustion,and wind engines.The motion produced is not necessarily rotational. At one time the two terms were not really interchangeable, but partway through the Industrial Revolution, they became pretty much so, especially with differences in nomenclature on the two sides of the Atlantic. regards / Mike Sorry to be so long winded...I'm not an engineer, but spent way to many years working with them..[just kidding, folks ].
These are always fun threads! In the old days - I am not that old! - the term engine was used for a mechanical device that converted thermal energy into mechanical energy or power, or it could be used for just about any mechanical contraption. Nowadays it's used for lot's of things, locomotive engines, fire engines, car engines, etc... Motors can be internal combustion (car, boat), or electric (sewing machine, refrigerator). The proper term seems to be user dependent. </font> I've seen different explanations on the origin of the word "engine". Some say it comes from the Latin verb "ingeniare", which means to devise or, engineer. Then it would something that was devised or engineered. Some say "ingenium", inate quality or nature. Some say "ingenero", to plant or generate. Then you could say it's something that generates something like power, electricty, etc...</font> Motor is easy, "mo" comes from the Latin verb movere, to move, and by adding "tor" you get - "mover". Something that makes something move.</font> So that's a lot of fun. In rocketry, the term "motor" is prefered, yet you'll still see NASA use the word "engine". How about those big diesel ENGINES in the locomotives ENGINES today? Don't we also call them prime MOVERS (motors)??
Let's see. Here's my "underground theory". I'd say you are a motor. Since you are operating the bike, you're a motorman! If it were a bicycle built for two, the passenger might be a conductor! [ 04. November 2002, 22:19: Message edited by: Johnny Trains ]
I was told many, many years ago that an "engine" converted the potential energy contained in externally provided combustible fuel into motion, e.g. coal>steam>piston>rod>wheel, or #2 diesel>combustion>piston>crankshaft. Whereas a "motor" converted available energy directly into motion, without the need for combustion, e.g. electricity>motor>shaft, or solar energy>radiometer>rotation. Given the above definitions, I guess Wayne would be an "Engine". He takes in copious amounts of fuel, e.g. beer and pretzels, which are combusted in a boiler (stomach), providing thermal energy to his legs, rotating a crank mechanism, thus propelling his bicycle. Note that the combustion process probably produces copious amounts of exhaust gas ... but I'm NOT going to go there! What can I say .... [ 05. November 2002, 02:51: Message edited by: Hank Coolidge ]
I don't pedal the bike! Beer, beans, and tacos provide copious amounts of GAS! Keep matches away! Originally, an "Engine" refered to a device that carried its own fuel along with it where ever it moved under its own power. Both steam and internal combustion engines were designated as "Engines" because they carried the fuel required. Tesla refered to an electrical device as a "Motor" because so long as an external power, such as compressed air, electricity, or water under pressure, was supplied, the "motor" could run. He postulated that a true "Motor" could NOT run by carrying its OWN source of power, since that would constitute "Perpetual Motion", (which was what he was experimenting to produce at the time. (Conservation of energy and friction prevents that). "It was advertizing that corrupted the terms "engine and motor", making both terms mean basically the same, yet neither describes the other". (That from a PhD. Professor.) Remember Boyle's Law: "It ain't over till the fat lady sings!"
If Watash did ride the bike, what would his starting tractive effort be and his 20m.p.h. tractive effort be?? Would he be turbo charged? AC OR DC? What kinda gear reduction would he have??
AC, DC, Gear reduction? What kind of foreign talk is that? Don't you know that Watash is STEAM powered? He has two 26 inch by 32 inch pistons which are kept in place by an alligator crosshead. His main driverods are connected to the bicycle pedals. His eccentric cranks are connected to a Baker valve gear. I'm getting in over my head. Russ, can you draw a picture of that?
Fitz, can you really get a mental picture of me going flat out at 60 per on that bike? Hat on tight, goggles on, bugs on my teeth, can't even see my feet going so fast! Highway Patrol in hot persuit with their double cherries blinking, buggy whips rocking, dumping donuts out the window! Huff & Puff! Sheesh! [ 06. November 2002, 22:22: Message edited by: watash ]
Oh my God! This is halarious! you guys I swear,.. HA HA HA I can just imagine a mental picture. I'd hate to actually see it! Watash that would be a Kodak moment! HA!
Wayne, thanks for the definitions of engines and motors, makes sense ... Scary, Ain't it? Therefore, based on what you said, a diesel-electric loco has a diesel "engine" providing energy to traction "motors".
