Understanding Mechanical Forces, Mechanisms, and Motion

Effort

An effort (q) is the internal tension experienced by bodies subjected to an action or several forces.

• Traction: The forces trying to stretch the body over which they apply.
• Compression: The forces trying to crush or compress a body are opposite and act inside the body.
• Flexion: The forces trying to bend the element on which they are applied.
• Torsion: The forces trying to wring the item on which they act.
• Shear: The forces act like two blades of scissors.
• Buckling: It is a composite effort with compression and flexion.

Mechanisms

These are intended to transmit or transform forces and movements from a driving element to another element.

• Mechanisms of transmission of motion: Pass on to another point the motion produced by a driving element.
• Motion processing mechanisms: Transform a circular movement into a rectilinear motion or vice versa.

The Lever

A lever is a rigid bar that rotates around a support or joint. At one point, a force is applied in order to overcome a resistance on the other side of the bar.

• Types: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree, according to their point of support.

Fixed Pulley

A grooved wheel that rotates around an axis that is subject to a fixed surface.

Mobile Pulley

A set of two pulleys, one of which is fixed and the other moves linearly.

Hoist

A special type of pulley assembly, fixed and mobile, consists of a pair of pulleys, half of which are fixed.

Circular to Rectilinear

Rack and Pinion System

This is a pinion and a rack or wheel. When turning the wheel or pinion, it moves with a rectilinear movement.

Screw Nut

If the bolt is held fixed and turned, the nut moves with a rectilinear motion along the threaded shaft, and vice versa.

Winch Handle

This is a bar attached to a shaft to rotate it, and the force required is less than what would have been applied directly.

Variation of Speed

It is a relationship between the rotation speeds of two gears connected. This relationship is due to the difference in diameters of the two wheels, which implies a difference between the speeds of rotation of both axes.

Rectilinear and Circular Alternative

The output element has a circular motion, while the output element is reciprocating.

Regular Motion

Brakes: drum, disk, and tape drives.

Energy-Accumulating Devices

Due to the elasticity, they absorb energy when subjected to certain pressures. They are formed by spring dampers and springs.