Mechanical Engineering

Engineers in this field design, test, build, and operate machinery of all types; they also work on a variety of manufactured goods and certain kinds of structures.

The field is divided into :
(1) machinery, mechanisms, materials, hydraulics, and pneumatics;
(2) heat as applied to engines, work and energy, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning.

The mechanical engineer, therefore, must be trained in mechanics, hydraulics, and thermodynamics and must be fully grounded in such subjects as metallurgy and machine design. Some mechanical engineers specialize in particular types of machines such as pumps or steam turbines. A mechanical engineer designs not only the machines that make products but the products themselves, and must design for both economy and efficiency. A typical example of the complexity of modern mechanical engineering is the design of an automobile, which entails not only the design of the engine that drives the car but also all its attendant accessories such as the steering and braking systems, the lighting system, the gearing by which the engine’s power is delivered to the wheels, the controls, and the body, including such details as the door latches and the type of seat upholstery.