Piston motors, also known as piston engines, are machines that convert fuel into mechanical energy using pistons. These pistons move up and down within cylinders, driven by the combustion of fuel and air. This movement turns a crankshaft, which ultimately powers vehicles, generators, and various machinery. There are two main types of piston motors: internal combustion engines and external combustion engines. Internal combustion engines, commonly found in cars, burn fuel inside the engine, while external combustion engines, like steam engines, burn fuel outside to heat water and create steam. Both types rely on the same basic principle of converting energy into motion.