Final answer:
The four strokes of a typical four-stroke airplane engine are the intake stroke, compression stroke, ignition/power stroke, and exhaust stroke, which together represent the Otto cycle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The order of operation regarding the strokes of a typical four-stroke per cycle airplane engine is as follows:
- Intake stroke: The engine cycles start with the intake stroke where the piston moves downward, and a mixture of gasoline and air is drawn into the combustion chamber.
- Compression stroke: Following the intake, the piston moves up to compress this air-fuel mixture in a nearly adiabatic process, increasing its pressure and temperature.
- Ignition: The compressed air-fuel mixture is then ignited, converting the chemical potential energy into thermal energy, causing a rapid increase in pressure.
- Power stroke: This is where the actual work happens. When the ignited gases expand, the piston is pushed down, turning the crankshaft and producing mechanical work.
- Exhaust stroke: After the power stroke, the piston moves up again to expel the burnt gases out of the combustion chamber, completing the cycle and preparing the engine for the next intake.
The Otto cycle is the idealized process that describes the operation of a four-stroke internal combustion engine, and while the actual processes in a real engine don't match exactly, they approximate the Otto cycle closely enough to be a useful model.