Mechanisms

Mechanisms are an important part of everyday life. They allow us to do simple things
like switch on lights , turn taps , and open doors . They also make it possible to use
escalators and lifts , travel in cars , and fly from continent to continent.

Mechanisms play a vital role in industry. While many industrial processes have
electronic control systems , it is still mechanisms that deliver the power to do the
work. They provide the forces to press steel sheets into car body panels, to lift large
components from place to place , to force plastic through dies to make pipes .

All mechanisms involve some kind of motion . The four basic kinds of motion are:

Rotary : Wheels , gears , and rollers involve rotary movement .

Oscillating : The pendulum of a clock oscillates – it swings backwards and forwards
Linear : The linear movement of a paper trimmer is used to cut the edge of the paper .
Reciprocating : The piston in a combustion engine reciprocates .

Many mechanisms involve changing one kind of motion into another type . For
example, the reciprocating motion of a piston is changed into a rotary motion by the
crankshaft, while a cam converts the rotary motion of the engine into the reciprocating
motion required operate the valves.

Indentify what kind of motion:

1. Mechanisms are an important ……. of everyday life. They allow us to do simple
things like switch on lights , turn taps , and open doors.

A system B partly C part D role

2. Mechanisms also make it possible to use ………. and lifts , travel in cars , and fly
from continent to continent.

A escalators B motors C insulators D. contacts

3. Mechanisms provide the ……. to press steel sheets into car body panels, to lift
large component from place to place, to force plastic through die to make pipes.

A processes B things C forces D systems

4. All mechanisms …………. some kind of motion. The four basic kinds of motion
are rotary, oscillating , linear and reciprocating.

A revolve B preserve C involve D conserve

5. Choosing the right lubricant is essential to reduce ……….

A friction B. mass C. cost D. weight

6. Friction is sometimes a help but it is often a .........

A force B gravity C buoyancy D hindrance

7. Oscillating means ………….

A swing backwards and forwards B moving up and down
C going around and around D going in a line
 FORCES in ENGINEERING
In physics, a force is any interaction that, when unopposed, will change the motion of
an object.[1] In other words, a force can cause an object with mass to change its
velocity (which includes to begin moving from a state of rest), i.e., to accelerate.
Force can also be described by intuitive concepts such as a push or a pull. A force has
both magnitude and direction, making it a vector quantity. It is measured in the SI unit
of newtons and represented by the symbol F.

A force can be a push or a pull. It is not something you can see or touch, but can see it
in action. Forces can be measured using a device called force meter. The unit of force
is called the newton. It is represented by the symbol N. A force of 2N is smaller that
7N.

For simplicity sake, all forces (interactions) between objects can be placed
into two broad categories: contact forces, and forces resulting from action-at-
a-distance.

Contact Forces include: frictional forces, buoyant forces, normal forces, and
air resistance forces

Action-at-a-distance forces include: gravitation, electrostatic and magnetic

forces.

1. Why doesn’t the ship sink?

To solve the ship problem , we must look at the forces on the ship . The
weight , W , acts downwards . That is the gravity force. The buoyancy force,
B, acts upwards . Since the ship is in equilibrium, the resultant force is zero, so
the magnitudes of B and W must be the same.

2. What makes the spring stretch and what keeps the weight up?
Another very important force in engineering is the one caused by
elasticity. A good example of this is a spring. Springs exert more force the
more they are stretched. This property provides a way of measuring force. A
spring balance can be calibrated in newtons, the unit of force. The block has a
weight of 10 newtons. The weight on the balance pulls the spring down. To
give equilibrium, the spring pulls up to oppose that weight . This upward
force, F1 , equals the weight of the block , W.

It is important to get the distinction between mass and weight

absolutely clear. Mass is the quantity of matter in an object. Weight is the
force on that object due to gravity. Mass is measured in kilograms, whereas
weight, being a force , is measured in newtons.

3. Why doesn’t the box slide down the slope?

 We have looked at buoyancy, elasticity, and gravity. There is a fourth
force important in engineering, and that is friction. Friction is a help in some
circumstances but a hindrance in others. Let us examine the forces on the box
Firstly, there is its weight , W, the gravity force , then there is the reaction , R ,
normal to the plane. R and W have a resultant force trying to pull the box
down the slope. It is the friction force, F, acting up the slope, that stops it
sliding down.

Exercise
1. The gravity force is the one that acts …….
A backwards B downwards C forwards D upwards

2. The buoyancy force is the one that acts …….

A backwards B downwards C forwards D.
upwards

3. Another very important force in engineering is the one caused by ……… . A good
example of this is a spring.
A flexibility B buoyancy C elasticity D electricity

4. Springs exert more force the more they are …… This property provides a way of
measuring force
A scratched B stretched C strained D restrained
5. A spring balance can be calibrated in newtons . The …..….. on the balance that
pulls the spring down
A weight B height C length D width

6. It is important to get the ….. between mass and weight absolutely clear .
A equivalent B distinction C quality D quantity

7. Mass is the ….. of matter in an object . Weight is the force on that object due to
gravity
A quantum B distinction C quality D quantity

8. We have locked at a buoyancy , elasticity and gravity . There is the fourth force
important in engineering , and that is ………….
A freight B hindrance C weight D friction

9. Friction in machines is destructive and wasteful . It causes the moving parts to wear
and it produces ……….. where it is not wanted
A heat B hot C cool D cold

10 Engineers reduce friction by using very highly polished materials and by ……….
their surfaces with oil and grease.
A oscillating B reciprocating C lubricating D reducing
Gravity is a fundamental force in the nature. This is an attractive force.
Every two objects is attracted by each other. This attractive force is known as the
gravitational force or simply gravity. It is a non contacting force. Newton proposed
the universal law of gravitation. In this law he explained about the attractive force
between two masses. This attractive force is proportional to the product of the masses
of the bodies and this force is inversely proportional to the distance square of them.
Examples of gravity are given below:

Example:

1. When you hold a ball up in the air, the mass of Earth allows the ball to fall to the
Earth.

2. If the moon stopped revolving around the Earth, the mass of the Earth would pull
the moon to the Earth.

(Simply Definition)
Gravity is a force that pulls objects downwards towards the centre of
the earth.

Think what happens The ball goes up in

when you throw a     the air and then
ball up into the air.  falls down again. 
 
         

Think what happens You soon come

when you jump up     down again to
into the air.   earth.
 
         
Think what happens They will  fall to
to ripe fruits such as the ground unless
   
apples that grow on they are picked
trees.  first.
 
         
All of these
happen
because of the
     
force we call

GRAVITY 

What keeps The answer is

you on the
   
earth as it
spins round? 
  GRAVITY 
         
What does
the space The answer is
shuttle have
   
to overcome
to leave the
GRAVITY 
 
earth? 
         

What keeps The answer is

the water in
   
the seas and
the oceans? 
GRAVITY  
 
         

What keeps The answer is

the air in the    
atmosphere?  GRAVITY 
 

In science, buoyancy (pronunciation: /ˈbɔɪ.ənᵗsi/[1][2] or /ˈbuːjənᵗsi/;[1][2] also known

as upthrust) is an upward force exerted by a fluid that opposes the weight of an
immersed object.
Example 2: Humans are made mostly of water and are thus very close to being
neutrally buoyant. However, if you take a large breath and hold it you can become
positively buoyant since your overall volume increases thus lowering you overall
density. Fat cells are less dense than water so people who carry a lot of extra fat can
float more easily.

Example 3: A can of Diet Coke will float while a can of Classic Coke will not float
because Classic Coke has 11 teaspoons of sugar which are not in a can of Diet Coke.
Sugar is more dense than water

Elasticity: In physics, elasticity (from Greek ἐλαστός "ductible") is the

ability of a body to resist a distorting influence or stress and to return to its original
size and shape when the stress is removed. Solid objects will deform when forces are
applied on them. If the material is elastic, the object will return to its initial shape and
size when these forces are removed.

An example of elastic force is bungee jumping. The elastic cord creates resistance
and imposes a force when the cord is stretched far enough. That elasticity creates the
bouncing motion a bungee jumper feels after the initial jump, while the cord works to
return to its normal size.

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Friction is the force resisting the relative motion of solid surfaces, fluid layers, and
material elements sliding against each other. There are several types of friction:

 Dry friction resists relative lateral motion of two solid surfaces in contact.
Dry friction is subdivided into static friction ("stiction") between non-moving
surfaces, and kinetic friction between moving surfaces.

 Fluid friction describes the friction between layers of a viscous fluid that are
moving relative to each other.
 Lubricated friction is a case of fluid friction where a lubricant fluid
separates two solid surfaces.

 Skin friction is a component of drag, the force resisting the motion of a fluid
across the surface of a body.

 Internal friction is the force resisting motion between the elements making
up a solid material while it undergoes deformation.

When surfaces in contact move relative to each other, the friction between the two
surfaces converts kinetic energy into thermal energy (that is, it converts work to
heat). This property can have dramatic consequences, as illustrated by the use of
friction created by rubbing pieces of wood together to start a fire. Kinetic energy
is converted to thermal energy whenever motion with friction occurs, for example
when a viscous fluid is stirred. Another important consequence of many types of
friction can be wear, which may lead to performance degradation and/or damage
to components.
 OTHER FORCES IN
ENGINEERING
1. Bending :

2. Centrifugal Force: the apparent force that is felt by an object moving in a curved
path that acts outwardly away from the center of rotation.

3. Compression is the force generated from compressing an object or substance.

Compression force is used to power everything from compression brakes to hand
tools.

4. Contraction: