A mechanical system is a system of components which moves or transmits energy. A variety of machines and devices can be considered as mechanical. Therefore, mechanical engineers and technicians work in many different industries involving the design, production and maintenance of mechanical systems.
The following is a list of some of the most commonly used terms related to mechanical engineering:
1. Force - a push or pull exerted on an object, which can cause it to start moving, stop, accelerate, or change direction.
2. Momentum - the quantity representing the tendency of an object to maintain its current state of motion.
3. Work - the application of a force over a distance.
4. Power - the rate of doing work, usually measured in watts.
5. Pressure - the amount of force per unit area exerted on an object.
6. Torque - the rotational equivalent of force, measured in foot-pounds.
7. Velocity - the speed and direction of an object’s motion.
8. Acceleration - the rate at which an object’s velocity changes.
9. Friction - a force opposing motion between two objects.
10. Impact - the transfer of energy between two objects when one of them is caused to transmit a certain amount of force over a certain distance.
11. Vibration - the regular, back and forth motion of an object.
12. Stress - the amount of strain on an object under the influence of a force.
13. Strain - the deformation of an object in response to an applied force.
14. Elasticity - the ability of an object to recover its original shape after being deformed
15. Breakage - when an object is subjected to a force greater than its strength and breaks into two or more pieces
16. Tension - the amount of tension in an object or material, which depends on its composition
17. Compression - the application of forces resulting in an object or material becoming shorter in length.
18. Resonance - the amplification of vibration caused when the frequency of an object matches its natural frequency or when the frequency of the applied force matches a natural frequency
19. Fatigue - the decrease in strength or increase in internal defect caused by repetitive or fluctuating stress
20. Fluid mechanics - the study of the movement of liquids and gases
21. Hydraulics - the study of liquid-based systems and the power that can be transferred through them
22. Heat transfer - the transfer of energy from one object to another due to a temperature gradient
23. Cycles - the repetition of a defined sequence of events
24. Thermodynamics - the study of the conversion of energy between different forms
25. Robotics - the design and study of machines which operate in both physical and virtual environments.
These are just some of the many concepts related to mechanical engineering. By studying and understanding these terms, engineers can become more proficient in their field and create more efficient and reliable products.
