Mechanical Systems

Mechanical systems are systems that use physical components to transmit, control, or change forces and motion in order to perform a useful task. They do not create energy; instead, they transform and redirect energy to make work easier, safer, or more efficient.

History

You will develop a broad understanding of engineering across history, examining how mechanical ideas have evolved in response to human needs, available materials, and technological knowledge.

Early mechanical inventions by Archimedes demonstrated how simple machines such as levers, pulleys, and screws could be used to multiply force and solve practical problems like lifting water and heavy loads. During the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci expanded mechanical thinking through detailed sketches and concepts for gears, bearings, linkages, and early machines, many of which were centuries ahead of their time.

The Industrial Revolution marked a major shift with steam-powered inventions, including the improved steam engine developed by James Watt, which enabled mechanised manufacturing, transport, and large-scale production. These developments transformed societies by increasing productivity and changing how people lived and worked.

Modern mechanical engineering builds on this history through advanced technologies such as nanomachines, which operate at extremely small scales, and biomimicry, where engineers model mechanical systems on structures and processes found in nature. Together, these developments show how mechanical systems continually evolve, combining historical principles with new materials, tools, and ways of thinking.

Mechanical Components

You must be able to describe the purpose and function of the following components:

• Simple machines
• Gears
• Belts and chains
• Cams, cranks, and linkages
• Hydraulics and Pneumatics
• Pistons and Cylinders
• Springs
• Bearings