Hobbies And Interests
Internal Combustion
An internal combustion propulsion engine is a common feature in many types of vehicles, from cars to submarines. The internal combustion engine works by causing hundreds of tiny explosions every minute using a fuel source such as gasoline. The engine then uses the energy from these explosions to fuel itself, making the vehicle move forward. Internal combustion systems typically rely on oil, which is one of the cheapest sources of fuel currently. However, oil is also a fossil fuel of which the planet only contains a finite amount. As oil becomes more rare, internal combustion engines will be more expensive to run.
Battery
Battery-powered electric motors use rechargeable batteries to provide the power source the motor needs to operate. The benefit of battery-powered electrical motors in vehicles such as cars is that the actual energy source can come from anything that contributes to the grid; so the electricity to power an electric car could ultimately come from wind, coal or any other type of power plant. This means a battery-powered vehicle is not bound by a single fuel source. However, battery-powered cars therefore need to have regular access to a reliable electric grid in order to work, making them less useful in areas without regular or reliable electricity.
Solar
Solar power uses solar cells to convert the sun's light into usable energy that propels the vehicle. Some solar-powered engines may use the solar panels as battery chargers, but some solar panels convert the energy directly into energy. Solar-powered boats operate under that principle, and scientists are developing ways to create solar technologies to propel spacecraft. Solar panels are clean and sunlight is abundant, but currently the technology used to make solar panels is very expensive. Solar propulsion can also be unreliable, because it requires the sun to shine in order to generate energy.
Nuclear
Nuclear propulsion uses the natural properties of fission reactions to generate electricity. Nuclear propulsion is not widespread, but many ships and submarines use nuclear propulsion and scientists have studied ways to use nuclear power for space exploration. Nuclear propulsion uses uranium as fuel, which is extremely abundant on Earth, making it much more reliable of a source than oil. It also produces energy at a consistent rate. However, nuclear technology is currently very expensive and the results of an accident, however small the likelihood may be, still poses a radiological threat.