Difference between revisions of "Machine" - New World Encyclopedia
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| + | :''This article is about devices that perform tasks.'' | ||
| + | [[Image:USDA windmills.jpg|right|thumb|Wind turbines]] | ||
| + | The scientific definition of a '''machine''' is any device that transmits or modifies [[energy]]. In common usage, the meaning is restricted to devices having rigid [[moving parts]] that perform or assist in performing some work. Machines normally require some energy source ("input") and always accomplish some sort of [[mechanical work|work]] ("output"). Devices with no rigid moving parts are commonly considered [[tool]]s, or simply [[device]]s, not machines. | ||
| + | People have used mechanisms to amplify their abilities since before written records were available. Generally these devices decrease the amount of [[force]] required to do a given amount of work, alter the direction of the force, or transform one form of [[motion (physics)|motion]] or energy into another. | ||
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| + | Modern power tools, [[automation|automated]] machine tools, and human-operated power machinery are tools that are also machines. Machines used to transform [[heat]] or other energy into mechanical energy are known as [[engine]]s. | ||
| + | {{Toc}} | ||
| + | [[Hydraulic]]s devices may also be used to support [[Industry|industrial]] applications, although devices entirely lacking rigid moving parts are not commonly considered machines. Hydraulics are widely used in heavy equipment industries, [[automobile]] industries, [[Marine (ocean)|marine]] industries, [[Aeronautics|aeronautical]] industries, [[construction equipment]] industries, [[Engineering vehicle|and earthmoving]] equipment industries. | ||
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| + | == Mechanical advantage and efficiency == | ||
| + | The [[mechanical advantage]] of a [[simple machine]] is the [[ratio]] between the force it exerts on the load and the input force applied. This does not entirely describe the machine's performance, as force is required to overcome [[friction]] as well. The [[mechanical efficiency]] of a machine is the ratio of the [[actual mechanical advantage]] (AMA) to the [[ideal mechanical advantage]] (IMA). Functioning physical machines are always less than 100 percent efficient. | ||
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| + | == Types of machines and other devices == | ||
| + | |||
| + | {| class="wikitable" | ||
| + | |+'''Types of machines and other devices''' | ||
| + | | rowspan="1" | [[Simple machine]]s || [[Inclined plane]], [[Wheel and axle]], [[Lever]], [[Pulley]], [[Wedge (mechanics)|Wedge]], [[Screw (simple machine)|Screw]] <!-- 'Simple machine' has a rather precise meaning - and that is the complete list - don't add to it! —> | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | rowspan="1" | Mechanical components || [[Gear]], [[Rope]], [[Spring (device)|Spring]], [[Wheel]], [[Axle]], [[Bearing (mechanical)|Bearings]], [[Belt (mechanical)|Belts]], [[Seal (mechanical)|Seals]], [[Roller chain]]s, [[Link chain]]s, [[Rack and pinion]], [[Fastener]], [[Key (lock)|Key]] | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | rowspan="1" | [[Clock]] || [[Atomic clock]], [[Chronometer]], [[Pendulum clock]], [[Quartz clock]] | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | rowspan="1" | [[Gas compressor|Compressors]] and [[Pump]]s || [[Archimedes screw]], [[Eductor-jet pump]], [[Hydraulic ram]], Pump, [[Tuyau]], [[Vacuum pump]] | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | rowspan="2" | [[Heat engine]]s || [[External combustion engine]]s || [[Steam engine]], [[Stirling engine]] | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Internal combustion engine]]s || [[Reciprocating engine]], [[Wankel engine]], [[Jet engine]], [[Rocket]], [[gas turbine]] | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | rowspan="1" | [[Linkage (mechanical)|Linkages]] || [[Pantograph]], [[Peaucellier-Lipkin linkage|Peaucellier-Lipkin]] | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | rowspan="1" | [[Turbine]] || [[Gas turbine]], Jet engine, [[Steam turbine]], [[Water turbine]], [[Wind generator]], [[Windmill]] (Air turbine) | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | rowspan="1" | [[Airfoil]] || [[Sail]], [[Wing]], [[Rudder]], [[Flap]], [[Propeller]] | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | rowspan="2" | Electronic machines || Computing machines || [[Calculator]], [[Computer]], [[Analog computer]] | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | [[Electronics]] || [[Transistor]], [[Diode]], [[Capacitor]], [[Resistor]], [[Inductor]] | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | rowspan="1" | [[Biology|Biological machines]] || [[Virus]], [[Bacterium]], [[Cell (biology)]], [[Plant]] and [[animal]], [[DNA computing|DNA computers]], [[Human being]] | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | rowspan="1" | Miscellaneous || [[Robot]], [[Vending machine]], [[Wind tunnel]] | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | |} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | * Boothroyd, Geoffrey and Winston A. Knight. 2005. ''Fundamentals of Machining and Machine Tools, Third Edition (Mechanical Engineering (Marcell Dekker))''. Boca Raton, FL: CRC. ISBN 1574446592 | ||
| + | * Myszka, David H. 1998. ''Machines and Mechanisms: Applied Kinematic Analysis''. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. ISBN 0135979153 | ||
| + | * Oberg, Erik, Franklin D. Jones, Holbrook L. Horton, and Henry H. Ryffel. 2000. ''Machinery's Handbook''. New York, NY: Industrial Press Inc. ISBN 0-8311-2635-3 | ||
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| + | ---- | ||
| + | {{Technology}} | ||
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| + | [[Category:Physical sciences]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Mechanical engineering]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Electrical engineering]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{credit|161104907}} | ||
Revision as of 16:04, 20 September 2016
- This article is about devices that perform tasks.
The scientific definition of a machine is any device that transmits or modifies energy. In common usage, the meaning is restricted to devices having rigid moving parts that perform or assist in performing some work. Machines normally require some energy source ("input") and always accomplish some sort of work ("output"). Devices with no rigid moving parts are commonly considered tools, or simply devices, not machines.
People have used mechanisms to amplify their abilities since before written records were available. Generally these devices decrease the amount of force required to do a given amount of work, alter the direction of the force, or transform one form of motion or energy into another.
Modern power tools, automated machine tools, and human-operated power machinery are tools that are also machines. Machines used to transform heat or other energy into mechanical energy are known as engines.
Hydraulics devices may also be used to support industrial applications, although devices entirely lacking rigid moving parts are not commonly considered machines. Hydraulics are widely used in heavy equipment industries, automobile industries, marine industries, aeronautical industries, construction equipment industries, and earthmoving equipment industries.
Mechanical advantage and efficiency
The mechanical advantage of a simple machine is the ratio between the force it exerts on the load and the input force applied. This does not entirely describe the machine's performance, as force is required to overcome friction as well. The mechanical efficiency of a machine is the ratio of the actual mechanical advantage (AMA) to the ideal mechanical advantage (IMA). Functioning physical machines are always less than 100 percent efficient.
Types of machines and other devices
| Simple machines | Inclined plane, Wheel and axle, Lever, Pulley, Wedge, Screw | |
| Mechanical components | Gear, Rope, Spring, Wheel, Axle, Bearings, Belts, Seals, Roller chains, Link chains, Rack and pinion, Fastener, Key | |
| Clock | Atomic clock, Chronometer, Pendulum clock, Quartz clock | |
| Compressors and Pumps | Archimedes screw, Eductor-jet pump, Hydraulic ram, Pump, Tuyau, Vacuum pump | |
| Heat engines | External combustion engines | Steam engine, Stirling engine |
| Internal combustion engines | Reciprocating engine, Wankel engine, Jet engine, Rocket, gas turbine | |
| Linkages | Pantograph, Peaucellier-Lipkin | |
| Turbine | Gas turbine, Jet engine, Steam turbine, Water turbine, Wind generator, Windmill (Air turbine) | |
| Airfoil | Sail, Wing, Rudder, Flap, Propeller | |
| Electronic machines | Computing machines | Calculator, Computer, Analog computer |
| Electronics | Transistor, Diode, Capacitor, Resistor, Inductor | |
| Biological machines | Virus, Bacterium, Cell (biology), Plant and animal, DNA computers, Human being | |
| Miscellaneous | Robot, Vending machine, Wind tunnel |
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Boothroyd, Geoffrey and Winston A. Knight. 2005. Fundamentals of Machining and Machine Tools, Third Edition (Mechanical Engineering (Marcell Dekker)). Boca Raton, FL: CRC. ISBN 1574446592
- Myszka, David H. 1998. Machines and Mechanisms: Applied Kinematic Analysis. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. ISBN 0135979153
- Oberg, Erik, Franklin D. Jones, Holbrook L. Horton, and Henry H. Ryffel. 2000. Machinery's Handbook. New York, NY: Industrial Press Inc. ISBN 0-8311-2635-3
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