Which component primarily determines the displacement of an engine?

The piston is the component that primarily determines the displacement of an engine. Engine displacement refers to the volume of the combustion chamber that is swept by the piston as it moves from the bottom dead center (BDC) to the top dead center (TDC) in the cylinder. Displacement is calculated based on the bore (diameter) and stroke (the distance the piston travels) of the engine.

The relationship between the piston and the engine's volume is central to understanding engine performance. The larger the displacement, the more air and fuel the engine can draw in and combust, which usually leads to more power output. The piston captures the volume of each cylinder during its stroke, making its size (diameter) and the distance it travels (stroke length) crucial parameters in calculating the total displacement of the engine.

Other components, while important to engine function, do not directly determine displacement. The crankshaft converts the reciprocating motion of the pistons into rotational motion, but it is not involved in defining the volume swept by the pistons. The camshaft controls the timing of the valve openings and closings but does not impact displacement either. Similarly, the connecting rod connects the piston to the crankshaft and facilitates the piston's movement but does not influence