TL DR : what happens when an engine is revving up but the wheel stays stationary?
For example, if the car is pulling a load that is too heavy, or on an uphill slope, the car will stay in place as the engine revs up. How does this happen? Where does all those power used go to anyway?
In: Engineering
The connection between the engine and the transmission/gearbox (in an Automatic car) is a fluid coupling called a torque converter. Imagine a big fluid container with 2 sets of propellers in it facing each other – one for the engine and one for the transmission. It’s like the fluid gets agitated by one and it tends to spin the other in the same direction. Even if they are not spinning at the same speed there is still a force transfer applying pressure on the other to turn.
If the wheels can’t turn then all you’re doing is agitating this fluid.
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