a technical discussion, engine efficiency Options

[r_towle]

so, I have been thinking (not always a good thing)
If an engine is basically an air pump, and the objective is to make it as close to 100 percent efficient, why is the exhaust valve so much smaller than the intake valve?

Forget emmisions, forget fuel delivery, just want to understand why this is so...it is so on most engines...

Rich

[r_towle]

QUOTE (James Thomlinson @ Aug 16 2005, 07:32 PM)

Disregarding the automotive discussion for a moment, I think what you state in your second to last paragraph is incorrect and contradicted by what you said in your last paragraph. In science and engineering if you want to provide someone with a true understanding, you will have to "get technical". For example, how would you explain electricity and magnetism or light in non-technical terms?

electricity is like the waves of an ocean.
or the current flowing down a stream
The width of the stream is the voltage, the amount of water.
the speed of the water, the force, is the amperage.

Magnetism is the same thing as love or lust or the need to be close to someone.

Light is the opposite of dark.
Dark is black, light is white.