Final answer:
The gas vapor/air mixture enters the cylinder of an internal combustion engine during the intake stroke. This is the initial phase of the four-stroke cycle, followed by compression, power, and exhaust strokes, commonly known as the Otto cycle.
Step-by-step explanation:
In an internal combustion engine, the gas vapor/air mixture enters the cylinder during the intake stroke. During this phase, air is mixed with fuel to prepare for the combustion process. The four-stroke cycle in an internal combustion engine includes the intake, compression, power, and exhaust strokes. Specifically, the Otto cycle, which is utilized in gasoline engines, begins with the intake stroke (also called the isobaric intake), followed by compression, ignition at constant volume, and subsequently the power stroke where most of the engine's power is produced. After the power stroke, the cycle concludes with a constant-volume exhaust and an isobaric compression to expel the remaining combustion products.