Mechanics

Mechanics is the oldest, and arguably most important, branch of engineering. Ever since man first learned to sharpen sticks for more effective hunting tools, they were unknowingly implementing mechanics to improve their lives. Mechanics is, at its heart, nothing more and nothing less than Newtonian physics. It is the study of energy, forces, and their effects. Everything from the key in your pocket to the USS Ford are, first and foremost, mechanics. Almost everything we do is based around mechanics. Mechanics is applied in every sector of life. Because of this, Mechanics is one of the most important fields for any engineer, regardless of discipline, to understand. Nothing happens in a vacuum. And for all but a very select few  engineering projects, the context in which any particular engineer works will be affected by mechanics.