Eli5: Why is fuel/petroleum the liquid that makes cars run? What’s happening inside the car with this specific liquid that makes it go that can’t happen with other liquids?
In: Technology
Are you asking why some liquids are combustible and other liquids, like water, do not burn in the presence of a spark?
The liquid is aerosolized inside the cylinder, air (oxygen) is pulled in and a spark fires which causes the fuel air mixture to combust and push against the piston and the process repeats.
There are certainly other liquids that are combustible but not every one has the same energy content. Ethanol, for example, burns but you cannot go as far with the same amount.
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