The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the burning of a fuel occurs in a confined

space called a combustion chamber. This exothermic reaction of a fuelwith an oxidizer creates gases
of high temperature and presure which are permitted to expand. The defining feature of an internal
combustion engine is that useful work is performed by the expanding hot gases acting directly to
cause movement, for example by acting on pistons, rotors, or even by pressing on and moving the
entire engine itself.

This contrasts with external combustion engines, such as steam engines, which use the combustion
process to heat a separate working fluid, typically water or steam, which then in turn does work, for
example by pressing on a steam actuated piston.
The term Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) is almost always used to refer specifically to
reciprocating engines, Wankel engines and similar designs in which combustion is intermittent.
However, continuous combustion engines, such as Jet engines, most rockets and many gas turbines
are also internal combustion engines.
Internal combustion engines are seen mostly in transportation. Several other uses are for any
portable situation where you need an non-electric motor. The largest application in this situation
would be an Internal combustion engine driving an electric generator. That way, you can use
standard electric toolsdriven by an internal combustion engine.
The advantages of these is the portability. It is more convenient using this type of engine in vehicles
over electricity.
Even in cases of hybrid vehicles, they still use an internal combustion engine to charge the battery.
The disadvantage is the pollution that they put out. Not only the obvious, air pollution, but also
pollution of broken or obsolete engines and waste parts, such as oil or rubber items that have to be
discarded. Noise pollution is another factor, many internal combustion engines are very loud. Some
are so loud, people need hearing protection to prevent damage their ears. Another disadvantage is
size. It is very impractical to have small motors that can have any power. Electric motors are much
more practical for this. That is why it is more likely to see an gas powered electric generator in an
area that has no electricity to power smaller items.

Diagram of a cylinder as found in 4-stroke gasoline engines.:

C crankshaft.
E exhaust camshaft.
I inlet camshaft.
P piston.
R connecting rod.
S spark plug.
V valves. red: exhaust, blue: intake.
W cooling water jacket.
gray structure engine block.

Diagram describing the ideal combustion cycle by Carnot