Automobiles are a form of motorized transportation used for personal transportation on land. Usually four-wheeled, they are powered by an internal-combustion engine fuelled most commonly by gasoline, a liquid petroleum product. Modern automobiles are complex technical systems involving thousands of component parts with specific design functions. The development of these subsystems has been accelerated by breakthroughs in existing technology and the use of new materials, such as electronic computers, high-strength plastics, and alloys of steel and nonferrous metals. Other factors influencing the development of automobiles have included the demands of air pollution and safety legislation and competition among car manufacturers worldwide.
Pros:
Having a vehicle allows you to travel to places more quickly than you could with public transport. You can also choose the time and date that suits you best without having to be dependent on bus schedules. Cons:
A car can cause problems if not driven properly or maintained regularly. It can also be costly to buy and maintain, and you will need to find a place to park it. However, if you are careful to drive within the law and follow road rules, your vehicle can be a very safe form of transportation.
Pros:
The development of automobiles has been a major force in twentieth-century society, making the world seem smaller and more accessible to most people than ever before. Today, passenger cars are the primary means of family transportation in the United States, where they cover more than three trillion miles (five trillion kilometres) annually. They are the chief customer of the petroleum industry and one of the most important users of industrial products such as steel and nonferrous metals. As a result, they have become the backbone of a consumer goods-oriented economy.
In the 1860s Siegfried Marcus, an engineer from Vienna, Austria, developed a two-stroke internal combustion engine that could be powered by both petrol and paraffin wax. This innovation allowed petrol-powered automobiles to be produced cheaply enough to become affordable for middle-class families.
By the 1900s, steam, electric, and gasoline engines competed for market share until the gasoline-powered automobile eventually won out. The automobile revolutionized the way people lived, work, and play.
The automobile has become a vital part of the economy, with the automotive industry producing one out of six jobs in the United States and providing one of every six dollars spent on manufactured goods. As a result, it is also the most powerful economic force in many countries of the world and has been a driving influence in changes to their political systems.