Distributor

The distributor's main function is to route electricity from the ignition coil to each spark plug at the correct time.

[1] This burst of electricity then travels to the spark plug (via high tension leads), where it ignites the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber.

Mechanical advance adjusts the timing based on the engine speed (rpm), using a set of hinged weights attached to the distributor shaft.

These weights cause the breaker points mounting plate to slightly rotate, thereby advancing the ignition timing.

This design means that high-voltage electricity is only present in the small distance between each coil and the spark plug.