Final answer:
The cylinders of an inline engine are lined up in a single row. This configuration can be found in both four-stroke gasoline engines and diesel engines, which use cyclical processes to convert heat into work.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cylinders of a four-stroke internal combustion gasoline engine are typically aligned in one of several configurations.
When the cylinders are lined up in a single row, it is known as an inline engine. In this configuration, the pistons move in parallel along a single plane. Heat transfer into work in the four-stroke gasoline engine follows a cyclical process consisting of the intake, compression, power, and exhaust strokes.
A similar cyclical process occurs in the diesel engine, but only air is drawn in during the intake, and fuel is added during the power stroke, igniting due to the heat of the compressed air.
This type of engine is commonly used in vehicles and consists of four strokes: intake, compression, power, and exhaust.