Mechanisms

Forces and energy are around us. Many, many years ago, human beings started to develop tools, which enable them to do tasks with less effort and greater confort.

Over time, humans have created many mechanisms and machines to improve their quality of life.

• We are surrounded by many of these mechanisms so....let´s start identifying objects with moveable parts:

scissors, window, locker, door, glue stick, tipex, skate, our body, clock...

• Now, try to identify how do they work, which are the hidden mechanisms or elements

lever (palanca), hinge (bisagra), cogwheel (ruedad dentada), pulley (polea), bearing (rodamiento), screw (tornillo), wheel and axle assemblies (unión de rueda y eje), nut and bolt assemblies (unión tuerca y tornillo)...

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All machines are made up of mechanisms. All mechanisms (also called simple machines) are made up of simple elements, regardless of how complex these mechanisms are.

Examples: Inclined plane (plano inclinado), wedge (cuña), wheel and axle (rueda y eje), nut and bolt (tuerca y tornillo), lever (palanca), pulley with belts (poleas con correas), gears (engranajes), cam (leva), crank (manivela), rack and pinion (piñon cremallera), gear mechanism with a chain (engranajes con cadena)... and many others