what is the differance between mechanical and civil engineering?

Question

descriptions of differant types of engineering

Answer 1

Mechanical engineers design things that move.
Civil engineers design things that they really hope stay still.

Answer 2

There are big differences, but there is also an area where they really overlap. This area is structural mechanics. It may seem strange but some of the same concepts used to design buildings are used to design airplane parts.

There are large differences in the two however. You could look at from an application standpoint.

Mechanical engineering deals with things in motion like machines and concepts of work. This includes power plants, motors of diverse kinds, thermal transfer, air conditioning/heating, vibrations, mechanical assemblies, airplanes, cars, and robots among other things. Fluid mechanics is a branch of mechanics as well, although this is also a part of civil engineering too.

Civil engineering deals with things that are hopefully not in motion . It deals with a countries infrastructure and basically anything big that has to do with taking care of people, buildings, roads, bridges, dams, channels, construction, pipe networks, water/wastewater treatment, offshore oil platforms, oil rigs, towers of all kinds,...etc.

Answer 3

The two engineering types are obviously very close related and they can work side by side on the same projects. They are both probably the most broad types of engineering as these types of engineers are used in many different areas. Mechanical engineers as the name proposes mostly deal with machines i.e. automotive engineering (basically anything with a hydrocarbon powered motor was designed by a mech. eng.), a lot of physics is involved, hydraulic engineering (heavy machinery and diesel powered vehicles) weapons, aerospace, manufacturing processes and equipment, heat transfer applications (windows, doors, insulation materials) but they also deal with the design of trusses used for bridges and sky scrapers. Civil engineers mostly deal with roadway systems - bridges, dams, tunnels, and buildings and sky scrapers. That is where architectural and civil engineers kind of overlap. More statics and strength of materials is used as opposed to physics, dynamics, and thermodynamics. Civil engineers can also deal with sewer systems and other applications where environmental engineers. A lot of the different types of engineering overlap in some areas which is a good thing because they have to meet at some point and they can also collaborate on those areas.

Answer 4

Mechanical is the physics of engineering mechanical structures or devices.
Civil engineering is engineering involving structures such as bridges, roads and other items relating to the public.
In short that is the difference.

Answer 5

Calc a million (Derivatives and Integrals) Calc 2 (Double and Triple Integration) Calc 3 (Linear Algebra and Matrices-now and back chop up into 2 instructions counting on college) Calc 4 (Differential Equations) FYI, maximum engineering majors require the comparable instructions for the 1st 2 years that's composed of those math classes which includes business, electric powered, and Civil engineering.

Answer 6

Mechanical engineers build rockets, civil engineers build targets.

Answer 7

...about 350 SAT points
(teeheehee)

Seriously, and simply put, mechanical engineering is about things....lots of, and all kinds of...things. Civil engineering is specifically about the "things" that are built on, with, or under the ground.

Don't let civil engineering get confused with geology or geography...studies of ground or location...keep in mind the engineering emphasis on "thing."

Answer 8

Mechanical: machines
Civil: structures (bridges, roads, retaining walls)

Answer 9

mechanical - machines' structure, mechanism, construction
civil - buildings and houses' structure, mechanics, construction