Automobiles are a type of vehicle that moves on their own power and is used to transport people. They usually have four wheels and an engine or motor to make them move. The word automobile comes from the Greek prefix “auto” meaning “self” and the Latin words “mobilis” meaning “moving.”
An automobile has a chassis that supports the body, which is made of metal or plastic. The body is designed to fit a specific vehicle model, and is made after receiving the chassis from the manufacturer.
The body is usually made from steel, aluminium, or other heavy materials that can withstand the weight of the vehicle. Some types of cars have an integral frame or body, which can be bolted on to the chassis. Other vehicles use a frameless construction, in which the body is made after the chassis is received from the manufacturer.
Some automobiles have a gearbox that allows the driver to control the speed and torque of the vehicle’s wheels. A gearbox may be automatic or manual. A transmission is also a device that transfers energy from the engine or motor to the wheel, for example by sending chemicals from an internal combustion engine to the wheels or by charging a battery and then turning it into electricity.
Another part of the car is the brakes, which slow down the vehicle by friction. Some cars have regenerative brakes, which work by transferring the electricity generated in the car’s movement back to the battery. This is an important feature in electric vehicles.
Many automobiles are equipped with safety systems that prevent accidents, including seat belts, air bags, and antilock braking systems. Some vehicles also have emergency steering systems, which allow the driver to steer the vehicle in an emergency.
In the United States, Henry Ford revolutionized the automotive industry by introducing manufacturing techniques that allowed mass production of cars at affordable prices. The American automobile revolution was an important factor in the growth of the industrial economy and the rise of mass consumption and urban living.
There are thousands of component parts in an automobile, and each one has a specific design function. This makes the automobile a very complex technical system that is constantly changing. Some of the major subsystems include the body, chassis, engine, drivetrain, control systems, and emission-control systems.
The earliest automobiles were made with steam engines, but they were too heavy to drive and were hard to control. Eventually, better and faster gasoline-powered automobiles began to become common.
Today, there are more than 1.4 billion passenger cars in the world and more than 70 million new ones are built every year. They are a vital part of modern life.
Most people in the United States drive their automobiles to and from work, school, shopping, and other activities. They help to keep traffic moving, but they can be dangerous if they crash. They are also a big source of air pollution and cause climate change when they burn gasoline, which releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.