Eli5: How come when I’m stopped in a car and I let go of the brakes, it moves forward without touching the accelerator?

Question

Eli5: How come when I’m stopped in a car and I let go of the brakes, it moves forward without touching the accelerator?

In: Engineering

Answer 1

Firing the ignition (turning the key) starts the engine’s motion. As long as there is fuel to burn, the engine will slowly move. This is why a car will move forward as long as the brakes aren’t locked, at about 2 mph