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Question

The long straight piece of metal with a cam on it , in an automobile engine, joining parts of machinery and responsible for opening/closing of valve is called

The correct answer is

Camshaft

Understanding Automobile Engine Components: The Camshaft

An automobile engine contains many crucial parts working together to produce power. The question describes a specific component: a long, straight piece of metal with cams, responsible for opening and closing engine valves. Let's examine the options provided.

Analysing the Engine Parts and their Functions

  • Camshaft: This is a rotating shaft with lobes or cams. As the camshaft rotates, these cams push against followers, which in turn open the engine's intake and exhaust valves at the correct timing. The camshaft's primary function is directly related to valve operation. It is a long component often located near the top of the engine (overhead camshafts) or in the engine block (in older designs). This description perfectly matches the component described in the question.
  • Connecting Rod: The connecting rod links the piston to the crankshaft. Its job is to convert the linear, up-and-down motion of the piston into the rotary motion of the crankshaft. It does not have cams and is not directly involved in valve operation.
  • Valve Spring: A valve spring is a coil spring that sits on the valve stem and holds the valve closed. When the camshaft pushes the valve open, the spring is compressed, and its tension pulls the valve shut when the cam lobe moves away. It is a spring, not a long piece of metal with cams.
  • Crankshaft: The crankshaft is a large, rotating shaft that converts the reciprocating motion of the pistons (via the connecting rods) into rotational motion that powers the vehicle. While essential for the engine's operation, the crankshaft itself does not have the cams responsible for valve opening and closing.

Based on the functions described, the component that is a long straight piece of metal with a cam on it, responsible for opening and closing valves, is the camshaft.

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Important Questions from Miscellaneous

  1. A stone is thrown horizontally from the top of a 20 m high building with a speed of 12 m/s. It hits the ground at a distance R from the building. Taking g = 10 m/s2 and neglecting air resistance will give :

  2. A sphere of volume V is made of a material with lower density than water. While on Earth, it floats on water with its volume f1V (f1 < 1) submerged. On the other hand, on a spaceship accelerating with acceleration a < g (g is the acceleration due to gravity on Earth) in outer space, its submerged volume in water is f2V. Then:

  3. A railway wagon (open at the top) of mass M1 is moving with speed v1 along a straight track. As a result of rain, after some time it gets partially filled with water so that the mass of the wagon becomes M2 and speed becomes v2. Taking the rain to be falling vertically and the water stationery inside the wagon, the relation between the two speeds v1 and v2 is :

  4. Consider the following statements:

    1. Distance between the longitudes becomes zero on North Pole and South Pole.

    2. Distance between the longitudes is maximum on the Equator.

    3. Number of longitudes is more than number of latitudes.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  5. One block of 2⋅0 kg mass is placed on top of another block of 3⋅0 kg mass. The coefficient of static friction between the two blocks is 0⋅2. The bottom block is pulled with a horizontal force F such that both the blocks move together without slipping. Taking acceleration due to gravity as 10 m/s2, the maximum value of the frictional force is :

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