machine
Sign in to savethumb|upright=1.2|A worker operating a milling machine in the early 20th century A machine is a thermodynamic system that uses power to apply forces and control movement to perform an action. The term is commonly applied to artificial devices, such as those employing engines or motors, but also to natural biological macromolecules, such as molecular machines. Machines can be driven by animals and people, by natural forces such as wind and water, and by chemical, thermal, or electrical power, and include a system of mechanisms that shape the actuator input to achieve a specific application of o
AI overview
A machine is a device or system that uses power to apply forces and control movement in order to perform a specific task. Machines matter because they allow us to accomplish work more efficiently and effectively than we could by hand alone, whether powered by people, animals, natural forces, or engines.
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Article
29 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- History
- Simple machines
- Mechanical systems
- Power sources
- Mechanisms
- Gears and gear trains
- Cam and follower mechanisms
- Linkages
- Planar mechanism
- Spherical mechanism
- Spatial mechanism
- Flexure mechanisms
- Machine elements
- Structural components
- Controllers
- Computing machines
- Molecular machines
- Impact
- Mechanization and automation
- Automata
- Mechanics
- Dynamics of machines
- Kinematics of machines
- Machine design
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
thumb|upright=1.2|A worker operating a milling machine in the early 20th century A machine is a thermodynamic system that uses power to apply forces and control movement to perform an action. The term is commonly applied to artificial devices, such as those employing engines or motors, but also to natural biological macromolecules, such as molecular machines. Machines can be driven by animals and people, by natural forces such as wind and water, and by chemical, thermal, or electrical power, and include a system of mechanisms that shape the actuator input to achieve a specific application of output forces and movement. They can also include computers and sensors that monitor performance and plan movement, often called mechanical systems.
Renaissance natural philosophers identified six simple machines which were the elementary devices that put a load into motion, and calculated the ratio of output force to input force, known today as mechanical advantage.