Apart from gear changing, what is the purpose of the clutch and how do you use it?

I've had a few lessons and I get that I need to press it when I change gears, that bit makes sense to me

However, I am confused with how and what it does for the rest of it, and what I need to do?

Like whenever I start, I have to press the clutch and the gas pedal?

And the whole clutch up too much or down too much or something and it rolls and at a certain point it just stays still? Can someone explain please?Apart from gear changing, what is the purpose of the clutch and how do you use it?
Imagine if you will, two plastic CDs , take one in one hand and another in your other hand.

Insert one CD AGAINST the other and pressing until a turning force can be exerted from one CD to the other.

the energy implied to one CD has now exerted a force upon the other and you have created a hand made clutch.

Hence the force generated by a cars engine is transmitted to the gearbox via a clutch.

The transmission is engine,clutch, gearbox, the clutch being spring loaded to return to the engaged position when the foot releases the pedal.



The purpose of the clutch is to disengage the engine from the gearbox allowing the gears to be selected when the correct ratio of engine speed to road speed has been aligned correctly for the conditions that the vehicle is facing; I.E. up hill slog or a down hill controlled movement or indeed any other road condition which may require a gear change.

Gear changes are made to reduce the load on the engine and increase efficiency.Apart from gear changing, what is the purpose of the clutch and how do you use it?
The clutch disengages power from the engine to the transmission so that you can change gears without ending up with little metal shavings everywhere and damaging your vehicle.



To start your vehicle, you do not hold the gas. You press the clutch all the way in and turn the ignition, thats it. It is difficult for a motor to start when it is already doing work while it is starting, So vehicles wont let you start unless the clutch is in.



Yes, if the car is in first gear and you are at a stop, at a certain point when releasing the clutch your car will move slowly forward without having to give any gas. Many people refer to this as the catching point in the clutch. It is at that point in the clutch where you should have some bit of gas on while releasing or you will cause bouncing, stalling etc...



If you are on a hill, the car will always roll while the clutch is engaged. Since there is no power being transferred from the motor to the transmission, the wheels will freely move whichever way gravity pulls the car untill power transfer starts.
You have to have the clutch/break in to start the car (not the gas), but aside from that it is only used for shifting up/down gears.
the clutch is used to seperate the engine from the transmission. when you have the clutch in, no power is going to the wheels. when you start, you let the clutch out and give it gas so you can move without stalling.