What is the scientific name of the throttle?
3 Answers
The scientific name of the throttle is the accelerator pedal. Below is relevant information about the car throttle: 1. The function of the car throttle: In gasoline engines, the throttle does not control the fuel injection volume but rather the opening size of the throttle valve. A smaller opening results in less air-fuel mixture entering the cylinder, leading to lower engine power output, and vice versa. 2. Solutions for a heavy throttle: If the throttle feels heavy, you can perform a fuel system cleaning. Alternatively, try accelerating further to see if the engine revs increase but the speed does not. If this occurs, it may indicate a damaged sensor in the transmission, which has locked the overdrive gear.
Actually, what we commonly call the 'gas pedal' has a pretty cool name in engineering documents—the accelerator pedal. That pedal under your right foot when driving is technically termed the accelerator pedal. It's quite interesting—though everyone calls it the gas pedal, modern cars no longer rely on directly controlling fuel flow for acceleration. It's actually a sensor; the depth you press is converted into an electrical signal sent to the car's computer, which then comprehensively decides whether to supply fuel to the engine. If you're driving a manual transmission car, you can even experience the fun of coordinating the accelerator and clutch—the pedal depth directly affects engine RPM matching, making gear shifts incredibly smooth once you master it.
I remember when I was first learning to drive, the instructor always shouted 'ease off the throttle.' Later, I looked it up and found out the standard term is accelerator pedal. This design has its origins dating back to the horse-drawn carriage era, but modern cars' electronic throttle systems are particularly clever. When you press down, there's no mechanical linkage—just a potentiometer sending pedal position signals. The engine control unit then decides how much fuel to deliver, making it more fuel-efficient than old cable-operated throttles. Especially in today's hybrid models, the electric motor engages first with light throttle input, and the engine only kicks in when you press harder. This design is genuinely eco-friendly and practical.
