Automobiles are vehicles that are driven by an internal combustion engine, which burns a fuel, such as gasoline, to create mechanical energy. The engine converts the energy into rotary motion that drives wheels to make the automobile move. The wheels are connected to the engine by a transmission that can change gears to control how fast the car goes, depending on what is needed at any given moment. Most of today’s cars are designed with safety features like seatbelts and airbags. They also need to be maintained and fueled regularly. Pros: Owning an automobile allows people to get around on their own, without having to depend on others for transportation. It also makes it easy to travel long distances. Cons: Owning an automobile comes with extra expenses like insurance, maintenance, and registration. Also, the emission of gases from automobiles can harm the environment.
In the early 20th Century, automobiles became much easier to use. Henry Ford used industrial manufacturing techniques, such as assembly lines, to produce many cars quickly in a factory. This allowed the price of cars to fall so that even middle-class families could afford them.
The New York Times newspaper first mentioned the name “automobile” in 1920 and it quickly caught on. By the end of that decade, automobiles had flooded America’s streets and highways. Automobiles changed the way Americans lived, work, and play. They gave people more freedom and opened up new activities like leisure sports, shopping, and vacations.