Free-piston engine

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/free-piston-engine

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the engine design?Crankless, linear internal combustion engine with piston motion controlled by force interactions
2. What is the primary operating mode?Typically utilizes a two-stroke cycle for power generation
3. Why do free-piston engines not have a crankshaft?They skip the crankshaft to keep the design simple, cut costs, and reduce parts that can wear out.
4. How does a free-piston engine make electricity?It uses a linear alternator that turns the piston’s straight motion into electrical energy right away.

Reciprocating Motion: A repetitive back-and-forth or up-and-down movement, characteristic of a piston in an engine cylinder.
Linear Alternator: A generator that converts linear mechanical motion directly into alternating electrical current without rotary components.
Thermodynamic Efficiency: The ratio of useful work output to the total heat energy input in a heat engine, indicating how effectively energy is converted.