How a car works.

[Salamander]

Does anyone know of any good sites that explains how a car works in terms that a 10 year old can understand?

I have been asked to help at my sons local cubs group and need to explain about crossplay & radial tyres, differentials and engines.

[woofgang]

try here to start

http://www.howstuffworks.com

[Salamander]

Thanks, but should have said UK sites preferred.

[woofgang]

sorry, that's the only one I know

[spudqueen]

Have you tried your local library? There should be some books in the kids section which are relevant.

[Octavius]

The link given by woofgang gives a detailed explanation of how a car engine works (if you follow the auti section) and as far as I know they work pretty much the same all over the world.  I don't understand why a 10 year old would want to know about crossplay, radial tyres and differentials.  As an alternative, try Dorling Kindersley: http://uk.dk.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,11_086318412X,00.html

[CLUMP]

Im a car mechanic so i hope i can help..

the easyest way to explain an engines workings is "Suck Squeeze Bang Blow" pistons move down the bore and suck in air and fuel then  the piston moves up the bore squeezeing the mixture its then ignited (bang) pushing the pistons down the bore with force then the piston moves up again pushing the burnt gas out(blow)and repeat. if you need a more complex answer then let me know

[Salamander]

Thanks for all the help. Octavius the cub leader has asked various parents to help out and and asked me to show them about tyres, differentials and engines. I was hoping for a site with plenty of pictures and easy to understand terminology. The reason I said UK sites was because I was thinking of a manual gearbox.

[Grunty]

There is a suitable book in the Ladybird series.