eli5: What’s the difference between an Auto transmission and a Manual?

Question

eli5: What’s the difference between an Auto transmission and a Manual?

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Answer 1

There are lots of different types of automatic transmissions, but the difference between a basic manual and basic auto are:

-The engine is connected to the gears by friction plates (clutch) in a manual, where the auto uses a torque converter (basically turbines in fluid).

-The gear selector in a manual uses rods and forks to select which gears to use, so you physically slide the gears into place. The automatic uses a computer, sensors, and hydraulics to select the optimal gear for the situation.