Motor vs. Engines

[lasflyer]

I have had a few people ask which "motor" is in my car.

I was always told MOTORS are powered by electricity and ENGINES are powered by combustable fuels.


Isn't this correct?

Yes and no. If you look in a general dictionary I think you will find that the term "Motor" includes internal combustion engines as well as anything else you will find in a motor vehicle. If you look in an engineering dictionary, a motor is short for "electric motor" and is any device that converts electric power to motion.

So it depends who you are talking to. In ordinary English you drive your GM or Ford Motor Co. motor vehicle with a motor to DMV. At a meeting of engineers you would be more correct to refer to the engine as an engine.

 

[VNugget]

I'm willing to live with Enigma's definitions.

 

[mar]

In Italia

In Italy, the multiengine rating is "mutli-motor", but yeah, in English there is the distinction......

But a jet engine is a "reactore" if I'm not mistaken.

 

[FN FAL]

I have motored the engine but I have never engined the motor. At least not knowingly.

yea you do...you engine the motor to "generate" electricity. At least on a PT-6 you do.

 

[KigAir]

A motor converts energy into work, an engine converts thermal energy into work.

Is a vibrator both an engine and motor?