Motor or Engine??
Motor or Engine??
I'm trying to find out what it would really be called.
I under the assumption that an engine relied on combustion and a motor was electrical. But after a conversation with someone about whether it's a motor or an engine in a car, I decided to do a little research.
According to Wikipedia:
Although the terms sometimes cause confusion, there is no real difference between an "engine" and a "motor." At one time, the word "engine" (from Latin, via Old French, ingenium, "ability") meant any piece of machinery. A "motor" (from Latin motor, "mover") is any machine that produces mechanical power. Traditionally, electric motors are not referred to as "engines," but combustion engines are often referred to as "motors." (An electric engine refers to locomotive operated by electricity).
With that said, one must understand that common usage does often dictate definitions. Many individuals consider engines as those things which generate their power from within, and motors as requiring an outside source of energy to perform their work. Evidently, the roots of the words seem to actually indicate a real difference. Further, as in many definitions, the root word only explains the beginnings of the word, rather than the current usage. It can certainly be argued that such is the case with the words motor and engine.
thefreedictionary.com has it as:
mo·tor
(m
t
r) n. 1. Something, such as a machine or an engine, that produces or imparts motion.
2. A device that converts any form of energy into mechanical energy, especially an internal-combustion engine or an arrangement of coils and magnets that converts electric current into mechanical power.
3. A motor vehicle, especially an automobile: "It was a night of lovers. All along the highway ... motors were parked and dim figures were clasped in revery" Sinclair Lewis.
en·gine (
nj
n) n. 1. a. A machine that converts energy into mechanical force or motion.
b. Such a machine distinguished from an electric, spring-driven, or hydraulic motor by its use of a fuel.
2. a. A mechanical appliance, instrument, or tool: engines of war.
b. An agent, instrument, or means of accomplishment.
3. A locomotive.
4. A fire engine.
5. Computer Science A search engine.
I guess you learn something everyday.
I under the assumption that an engine relied on combustion and a motor was electrical. But after a conversation with someone about whether it's a motor or an engine in a car, I decided to do a little research.
According to Wikipedia:
Although the terms sometimes cause confusion, there is no real difference between an "engine" and a "motor." At one time, the word "engine" (from Latin, via Old French, ingenium, "ability") meant any piece of machinery. A "motor" (from Latin motor, "mover") is any machine that produces mechanical power. Traditionally, electric motors are not referred to as "engines," but combustion engines are often referred to as "motors." (An electric engine refers to locomotive operated by electricity).
With that said, one must understand that common usage does often dictate definitions. Many individuals consider engines as those things which generate their power from within, and motors as requiring an outside source of energy to perform their work. Evidently, the roots of the words seem to actually indicate a real difference. Further, as in many definitions, the root word only explains the beginnings of the word, rather than the current usage. It can certainly be argued that such is the case with the words motor and engine.
thefreedictionary.com has it as:
mo·tor
(mtr) n. 1. Something, such as a machine or an engine, that produces or imparts motion.2. A device that converts any form of energy into mechanical energy, especially an internal-combustion engine or an arrangement of coils and magnets that converts electric current into mechanical power.
3. A motor vehicle, especially an automobile: "It was a night of lovers. All along the highway ... motors were parked and dim figures were clasped in revery" Sinclair Lewis.
en·gine
(njn) n. 1. a. A machine that converts energy into mechanical force or motion.b. Such a machine distinguished from an electric, spring-driven, or hydraulic motor by its use of a fuel.
2. a. A mechanical appliance, instrument, or tool: engines of war.
b. An agent, instrument, or means of accomplishment.
3. A locomotive.
4. A fire engine.
5. Computer Science A search engine.
I guess you learn something everyday.
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