2-stroke cycle with more details, and some 4-stroke engine stuff

First, a blast (literally) from the past: the steam engine:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/steam1.htm'

Scroll down and run the animation.

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The familiar 2-stroke engine:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/two-stroke1.htm

With animation:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/two-stroke2.htm

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Watch this video; the engine he shows in cut-away is a 2-stroke single-cylinder engine:

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine.htm

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Here is a single-cylinder 4-stroke engine, if you're thinking ahead a little:

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine1.htm

(Note the FOUR strokes: intake, compression, combustion, exhaust)

This one is more like a lawn mower engine.

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And if you're really thinking ahead, here is a 4-cylinder 4-stroke engine:

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine2.htm

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And if you're super-curious, here is how the pistons translate all that up-and-down pumping into rotational motion (via the crankshaft):

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine4.htm

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For casual reading: what can go wrong....

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine3.htm