Learnings from the Scrap Heap Garage

  You can’t talk about engines without talking about energy.  Fuel isn't just a refill, it's the defining ingredient. The type of energy you use doesn’t just affect performance or cost. It shapes: The internal design of the engine The gear systems that go with it Its lifespan, sound, feel , and even its political implications In this post, we’ll look at how different energy sources, such as gasoline, electricity, steam, compressed air, and more, often influence the engines they power. In addition, the reason why, in a tinkerer’s eyes, the fuel is just as fascinating as the fire. Petroleum: Explosions in a Controlled Cage The classic combustion engine. Air + fuel + spark = controlled chaos . How it shapes the engine: High-speed rotation, high torque (especially in the mid-to-high RPM range) Requires pistons, crankshaft, timing gears, camshafts and valves to be all synced perfectly Heat is a major challenge, and therefore cooling sy...

  If understanding how internal combustion engines work was my first mechanical breakthrough, and electric motors my second, then this is where those two worlds collide, and compete . We’re in a time where the car market, and the world at large, is in transition. Should we all be going fully electric? Are hybrids a smarter in-between? Is the gas-powered engine really dying or just evolving? Let’s break it down from the inside out. Tech Breakdown: What’s Under the Hood? Here’s what each drivetrain is actually doing, side-by-side: Powertrain How It Works Examples Internal Combustion (ICE) Runs purely on gasoline or diesel; energy is created by burning fuel inside the engine. Toyota Corolla, Ford Mustang Hybrid (HEV) Combines a small ICE with an electric motor; the motor assists and recharges via regenerative braking. Toyota Prius, Honda Insight ...

When I first understood the internal combustion engine, I felt like I had unlocked a mechanical secret, one that powered everything from motorcycles to airplanes.  But just as I was soaking in the elegance of pistons, spark plugs, and crankshafts, I started noticing something else on the streets, which was the cars that didn’t make any sound. Very interesting at first, and my first experience of this was in an Uber. No exhaust rumble. No gear shift. Just a smooth, eerie glide past me like a whisper. Welcome to the world of electric motors. This post is about how I went from combustion curiosity to electric awe, and what makes electric motors such a game-changer. Electric Motors 101: What’s Actually Happening? If ICEs are like controlled explosions, electric motors are more like controlled magic, at least, that’s how they felt to me at first. But it’s not magic. It’s magnetism. It works on the principles of electromagnetism. Here’s the simple version: Electricity...

From the simplicity of a bicycle to the powerful complexity of an automobile, machines designed for transportation have evolved dramatically. Yet, beneath their differences, all these machines operate under the same fundamental principles of physics, which include, force, motion, energy, and efficiency.  In this article, we compare the bicycle, motorbike, and car as machines: how they're built, how they function, and what physics drives them forward. 1. Power Source and Energy Conversion Bicycle : Powered purely by human energy, the bicycle is a marvel of mechanical efficiency. The rider's muscles convert chemical energy (from food) into mechanical energy through pedaling. Motorbike : Uses an internal combustion engine to burn fuel, converting chemical energy into thermal energy and then mechanical motion. Automobile : Traditionally uses a combustion engine or an electric motor. Combustion involves complex thermodynamic cycles, while e...