Mechanical Definition and 1000 Threads

Mechanical engineering is an engineering branch that combines engineering physics and mathematics principles with materials science to design, analyze, manufacture, and maintain mechanical systems. It is one of the oldest and broadest of the engineering branches.Mechanical engineering combines creativity, knowledge and analytical tools to complete the difficult task of shaping an idea into reality.
The mechanical engineering field requires an understanding of core areas including mechanics, dynamics, thermodynamics, materials science, structural analysis, and electricity. In addition to these core principles, mechanical engineers use tools such as computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), and product lifecycle management to design and analyze manufacturing plants, industrial equipment and machinery, heating and cooling systems, transport systems, aircraft, watercraft, robotics, medical devices, weapons, and others. It is the branch of engineering that involves the design, production, and operation of machinery.Mechanical engineering emerged as a field during the Industrial Revolution in Europe in the 18th century; however, its development can be traced back several thousand years around the world. In the 19th century, developments in physics led to the development of mechanical engineering science. The field has continually evolved to incorporate advancements; today mechanical engineers are pursuing developments in such areas as composites, mechatronics, and nanotechnology. It also overlaps with aerospace engineering, metallurgical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, manufacturing engineering, chemical engineering, industrial engineering, and other engineering disciplines to varying amounts. Mechanical engineers may also work in the field of biomedical engineering, specifically with biomechanics, transport phenomena, biomechatronics, bionanotechnology, and modelling of biological systems.

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  1. F

    Mechanical Advantage of a pulley with horizontal effort

    How will the MA of a fixed pulley change if I apply the effort horizontally? Intuitively, I feel horizontal effort should be lesser effort than vertical effort.
  2. N

    Mechanical engineering: Maximum Power Transmitted by a V-Belt Assembly

    Summary:: Hi I’m in second year mechanical engineering and I really need help with this question! Sorry about my handwriting in the attachment I’ve put in, I've written the question out but there is an image of figure one on the file attached. Many thanks! [Mentor Note -- Thread moved from a...
  3. A

    Solve my Mechanical Motion Puzzle: 18in(7lbs)

    I am at my wits end with trying to find this formula. So far all I've gotten is I need to figure out mechanical power, maybe torque? I can't figure out the formula for this motion as it is like negative leverage. I want to build a machine that can do this thousands of times so I also need to...
  4. E

    Can Uneven Heating and Mechanical Rotation Generate Winds?

    I've had a question bugging me lately and no matter how much I google, I can't seem to find an answer. I'm sure this probably isn't possible, and my logic is probably flawed (Earth sciences isn't my forte), so I figured I'd ask you fine folks here. First, my understanding of wind, it's caused...
  5. A

    B Mechanical Resonance and Natural Frequency at the Atomic/Lattice Level

    How do we explain resonance of a complex system (say a bridge) at the atomic level? What's happening to its molecules when it's oscillating at resonance, and does that have anything to do with the frequency at which the molecules oscillate in the material?
  6. M

    Mechanical Energy of two Cannonballs fired at two different angles

    I solved for both heights: h1 = (1.85x10^4)m, h2 = (5.10 x 10^4)m Question is knowing ME = PE + KE for ball at h1 (angled 37 degrees), is it safe to assume there would be no KE as velocity would equal zero at the highest point? So the mechanical energy = mgh ? Would it be the same for ball at h2?
  7. E

    S-wave phase shift for quantum mechanical scattering

    a.) The potential is a delta function, so ##V \left( r \right) = \frac {\hbar^2} {2\mu} \gamma \delta \left(r-a \right)##, therefore ##V \left( r \right) = \frac {\hbar^2} {2\mu} \gamma ## at ##r=a##, and ##V \left( r \right) = 0## otherwise. I've tried a few different approaches: 1.) In...
  8. M

    Engineering Mechanical Vibrations - 2 DOF System - Rod with 2 springs

    Hi, So the question is to: derive the equations of motion for the following in terms of x1 and x2? The bar is assumed to be light and rigid. (NB. I know I posted another vibrations problem earlier in which I tried to use an energy approach to get to the equations of motion. However, we haven't...
  9. R

    Engineering Want to study mechanical engineering.... but failing physics exams?

    Hi, I'm feeling pretty disheartened after failing my second college physics exam in a row (I have about a low C in the class with homework and labs). I'm a freshman in physics 1, my first college physics class, where we are learning mechanics. I took physics in high school but my teacher was...
  10. kuruman

    Can We Do Better Than Mechanical Energy Conservation?

    Continue reading...
  11. A

    Want to take the PE Mechanical exam

    Summary:: Passed the FE, ready to take the PE. Hello, I had recently passed the FE exam, ready to start studying for the PE Mechanical exam. Does anyone recommend any specific study material? I just recently purchased the PE Mechanical reference textbook and looking into purchasing some study...
  12. H

    Some questions from the navy oar mechanical comprehension

    I am looking at the following exam the mechanical comprehension part and I am having trouble with some of the questions. Here is the link https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ITIf6mx4RmDoL96IYoH-eY6-jQPh7CUv. I am having trouble with the following 3. A woman sits in a dragster the beginning...
  13. S

    Job Skills Future Mechanical Engineering Domains

    Hi, Which technology specializations within the mechanical engineering domain will be most demanded in the future? (I am looking for different technologies rather than for applications enabled by the technology. For example not 'robotics', but rather the technologies used for robotics) Thanks...
  14. Rolacycle

    Mechanical advantage of a moving pulley vs an anchored pulley

    This is deer feeder pulley system I plan to make unless there is more efficient way to use the same 6 pulleys and pull load centered between the two poles
  15. STM

    Engineering Mechanical principles: vehicle acceleration calculations

  16. kuruman

    Is Mechanical Energy Conservation Free of Ambiguity?

    [url="https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/is-mechanical-energy-conservation-free-of-ambiguity/"]Continue reading...
  17. Deepesh

    Does Increasing Mass Affect the Natural Frequency of Vibration?

    My query here is, Suppose there is a 2 kg mass To oscillate it/vibrate it, it will take some force and it will have some natural frequency Now I increase the mass to 5 kg so to vibrate it, won't it take more force and so at the end, won't the natural frequency of the object increase? as its more...
  18. C

    Can a Mechanical Stopper Protect My Apartment Door from Intruders?

    I rented a unit at the 32th floor for 6 months. The door has only 2 locks. The top has a double lock. The bottom is a normal door lock. Now imagine a drunkard or robber that would just kick the door from outside. It is enough to break the lock as it's secure on just wooden frame. Do you know...
  19. Zouatine

    Question about potential for this mechanical force problem

    Hi! hope you are doing well , I'm trying to solve this problem ( mechanical problem) about structure with load F as it showing in the next figure , i want to determine to critical force F , the stability force ( which means if my load is bigger than the critical load my system will be unstable)...
  20. Dale

    How Does Mechanical Power Flow Through Structures Like Drive Shafts and Levers?

    I am trying to determine the flow of mechanical power through a structure like a drive shaft or even a simple lever. The components of the Cauchy stress tensor, ##\sigma_{ij}##, have units of force/area, so if I multiply by the velocity, then ##\sigma_{ij} v_j## would have units of power/area...
  21. Frigus

    Can we say that work done can be used only for mechanical energy?

    When we say that we apply force to a wall then we didn't transferred energy because of no displacement, but I think we somehow increase many types of energy of the wall. For e.g:- potential energy of particles in wall e.t.c. So according to me it means that we defined work only for mechanical...
  22. J

    Maximum mechanical actuator strength allowed by physics

    What is the strongest actuator (that can exert a controlled amount of force & be able to start/stop linearly or rotationally) that an infinitely advanced civilization could create, and how (what object/process) would they do it? It must be non-lethal or be shielded to be non-lethal at a distance...
  23. cellist542

    Programs Engineering Triple Major (Mechanical, Electrical, Computer Science)

    I am currently an ambitious sophomore in high school aspiring to become an engineer. Generally, I love physics, chemistry, biology, and I'm interested in computer science. I am interested in aeronautical, biomedical, chemical, electrical, environmental, computer, mechanical, materials, nuclear...
  24. Frigus

    B Quantum mechanical model of an atom

    We say that principal quantum number tells us the average distance from the nucleus, so the sub shells of some principal quantum number say 3 has 3 sub Shells 0,1,2 and in 3p sub shell their will probability of finding the electron near the nucleus which doesn't mean electron will find in region...
  25. C

    Climbing with Tension: Exploring Muscle vs. Mechanical Energy

    Here the upward force on the camp is Tsinx <=360 Therefore T(max)=720N Here they have taken the equation that T-mg=ma This shows that the man is climbing due to tension. But I can't visualise how tension helps in climbing. Isn't it our own energy that helps us to climb. The muscle energy gets...
  26. E

    The Antikythera mechanism is a 2,000 year old mechanical computer

    This was a marvel of technology for the time. Leave it up to the Greeks to invent something like this, they were at the forefront of innovation in the ancient world. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antikythera_mechanism
  27. A

    How exactly does a turbine convert mechanical energy into electrical?

    I understand that the turbine drives rotational motion of a low and high speed shaft which rotates within the generator, but how exactly, and with what components/materials does this create electrical energy? Is there a minimum required rotational speed or torque required to generate...
  28. S

    Online Mechanical Engineering program

    Summary:: From Physics to Mechanical Engineering Hi All, I am in search of some guidance to start my education/career in Mechanical Engineering. I have an undergraduate degree in Physic and would like to go for Master’s in Mechanical Engineering if possible. Does anyone have an experience...
  29. nuclearfireball_42

    Is Bernoulli's Equation related to the Conservation of Mechanical Energy?

    So the Bernoulli's Equation.. My question : Are the terms on the left hand side equal to the total mechanical energy? So can I rewrite this equation as ?
  30. G

    Mechanical Advantage of a Compound Wedge

    Length of wedge/width of wedge = mechanical advantage
  31. amelune

    Schools Universität Leipzig - Mechanical Engineering

    Hello everyone, This year I'm planning to apply for the bachelor program of IPSP. Since my high school is not qualified by DAAD, I have to complete at least one year in any other university and apply through uni-assist. I'm already in my second undergraduate year of Mechanical Engineering and...
  32. D

    Rigid body simulation of complex mechanical systems

    Greetings, I'd like to simulate a complex mechanical automaton with lots of gears, cams, levers and springs. Most of the parts are going to be 3D printed except for some metal springs, rods and bearings. I want to make sure everything fits together and works as expected. Here is just a small...
  33. M

    Engineering Help with pressure drop/transposing formula to get pipe diameter

    Hello. My attempt at the solution is as follows: l = 160m Q= 300 ls-1 R= p2/p1= 6+1.01/1.01 = 6.94 (2dp) d = Unknown Pressure drop = 0.3 Bar 0.3 = 800*160*300^2/6.94*d^5.31 0.3 = 1.152x10^10/6.94*d^5.31 0.3 ( 6.94*d^5.31) = 1.152x10^10 6.94*d^5.31 = 1.152x10^10/0.3 d^5.31 =...
  34. E

    Analyzing Tensions in a Pulley System: Understanding Mechanical Advantage

    I asume the upper right pulley wire loads will be split in two equally. Therefore, the sum of the loads above pulley equal T1+T2?. To me it appears as if the setup is almost like a 2 to 1 ratio. However, the wires on the left side which are anchored, split the load of the other half of the 2 to...
  35. D

    Engineering Should I Study Mechanical or Electrical Engineering to Design Magnetic Systems?

    Hello, I want to do what a mechanical engineer does but with the electromagnetic force. What should I study mechanical or electrical engineering? An ideal job for me would be designing the magnetic system for motion in a maglev train, for example.
  36. A

    I Mechanical system with de Broglie-like features

    Hello, I am curious if I have this correct and if it has a name. A thin walled cylinder is spinning on its axis along its length in a closed system. It begins to draw itself in converting its invariant mass to kinetic energy. In polar coordinates ##E=\gamma_\theta m c^2, L=\gamma_\theta m...
  37. D

    Engineering How to know if I’m more inclined towards Mechanical or Electrical Engineering?

    How to know if I’m more inclined towards mechanical or electrical engineering?
  38. AbdullahS

    Any ideas for how to read this mechanical timer?

    Hi all, just came across this timer while on a site-visit. Any idea how to read this thing? PS: if it is not a right section, please move it to the right one as I was not sure where to post this. Regards, Abdullah
  39. E

    Mechanical advantage of a pulley system

    I don't know how the bottom two pulleys affect the top one. From what I know, the three ropes should have the same tension, the force of the body, divided between them. So if we take top one, it should have that tension on both sides, but also should support the other two pulleys below it. That...
  40. E

    Mechanical Advantage for an Ebike Trailer

    Hello everyone! I am trying to figure out a work load / Pulling ability of trailers for the company I work for. We produce Electric bikes that have attachable utility trailers.. The general Wattage output for these E-bikes is 1000w. The trailers Mechanical advantage = 62.15MA. (WR=11 & AR=...
  41. ramadhankd

    Shredder Cutting Area Calculation

    Hello everyone, I'm trying to design a plastic shredder machine, but I'm stuck on how to determine the cutting area of my shredder. I've already made some research, and I think that the cutting area depends on the blade thickness and the plastic thickness. As for why the blade thickness is...
  42. V

    Mechanical vibrations: colliding blocks

    I saw this general formula: ##w_{0} = \sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}## In my case both masses after collision create connected system, so ##w_{0} = \sqrt{\frac{k}{m+M}}## Plugging it into ##\omega = \sqrt{\omega_{0}^2 - \beta^2}## gives : ##\omega = \sqrt{\frac{k}{m+M} - \beta^2} = \sqrt{80 - 21^2} <...
  43. V

    Mechanical vibrations: floating apple

    Can someone double check my calculations? I will skip ##\theta## shift angle in all calculations for simplicity. ##x(t) = Acos(\omega t) \quad \land \quad \omega = \frac{2\pi}{T} \quad \land \quad A = \frac{1}{50}m = h## 1.1: ##x(\frac{1}{4}T)## = ? ##x(\frac{1}{4}T) = Acos(\frac{2\pi}{T}...
  44. V

    Mechanical vibrations: maximum velocity

    So I am almost sure I know how to solve this, just curious about the maximum velocity. Anyway, if you could double check my calculations, here it is. ##T = \frac{t}{n} = \frac{10s}{15} = \frac{2}{3}s## ##\omega = \frac{2\pi}{T} = 2\pi \frac{3}{2} = 3\pi## a). position at ##t = 0.8s##...
  45. YoungPhysicist

    Wood/Glass/Metal Wooden hydraulic mechanical arm

    Yesterday, I found a device in the recycle bin of our school’s art classroom. It’s a broken wooden hydraulic mech arm someone built a couple years ago. After some fixing and filling the syringes with water again, this is how it looks now: Here’s a video of it working: I am aware of...
  46. samalkhaiat

    Insights The Classical Limit of Quantum Mechanical Commutator

    Continue reading...
  47. Z

    Engineering Senior mechanical engineering student With a 3.5 GPA but I really hate it

    Hello guys, Long story short i am a senior mechanical engineering student (graduating next year). But i do not like my major, at first i did not matter to me what i choose or what i study. i did not know what i like and mechanical engineering seemed a good option to me in terms of good job...
  48. MatNX

    Blast radius of mechanical explosion

    Imagine a container with compressed air ruptures. Inside is a metric ton of air, just very dense. If it explodes, ignoring fragments of the container and the ground, how would i calculate the blast radius? Do I need the Volume of the container or the density? I thought it might just be the...
  49. theycallmevirgo

    Analog (mechanical) pressure gauge for a single cylinder filter

    https://www.flairespresso.com/product-page/flair-signature made a manual espresso machine and specify using 30 lb of pressure in the manual. In order to determine the correct pressure, they literally tell the user to push down on a kitchen scale. I'm considering a competing product, and that...
  50. maistral

    A Mechanical steps for the natural-neighbor interpolation

    So I have a massive (I mean, 1000-point) three-column 2D data series (z = f(x,y)) and at some point, I need intermediate values. An option that I thought of is to fit the entire data series in a surface, which is somewhat out of the question due to the nature of the experiments I'm working with...
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