The clutch pedal is that third one you'll find in manual transmission cars, the one on the far left a driver must press for every gear change. If you can drive stick, then you already knew that. But you might not have spent much time thinking about the nitty-gritty mechanics of the clutch.
The YouTube channel LearnEngineering posted this clip full of nice animations and simple explanations. Watch it and come away with a better understanding of what the clutch actually does.
The short version is that changing gears in a manual transmission car requires disengaging the power flow from your engine to the transmission. The clutch is a disc that accomplishes this disconnection. The assembly around it includes what's called a diaphragm spring, which allows the clutch to engage or disengage the engine depending on whether you've pressed the clutch.
LearnEngineering's visuals do a nice job of walking you through the friction and fine details. Next time your left foot does its thing, you'll know a little bit more about what's behind the curtain.
Via Jalopnik
Andrew's from Nebraska. His work has also appeared in Discover, The Awl, Scientific American, Mental Floss, Playboy, and elsewhere. He lives in Brooklyn with two cats and a snake.
