Automobiles are an essential part of the modern world, and their role in society is far-reaching. They help to transport people to work and school, provide freedom to travel and spend time with family, and they have helped to connect cities and rural areas. The automotive industry is responsible for economic development and the creation of new jobs. But they also have negative impacts on the environment. They cause air pollution and climate change and deplete natural resources like fossil fuels.
The scientific and technical building blocks of the automobile have been around for several hundred years. In the late 1600s, Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens invented a type of internal combustion engine that could be sparked with gunpowder. By the 1900s, steam, battery electric, and gasoline powered cars were competing to be the main form of transportation in America.
Karl Benz, a German engineer, was the first person to create a mass-produced car in 1885. His Model T was affordable enough for farmers and factory workers to purchase and use. Henry Ford came after Benz and revolutionized the way cars are made. His assembly line and Model T allowed for a greater number of cars to be produced in a shorter period of time at a lower cost than previous models. This made the car accessible to more of the American public. The body is a key component of the car. It forms the shape of the vehicle, gives room for passengers and storage, and houses the systems that make it run.