what are mechanisms?

Question

What are mechanisms??
I need to find what are mechanisms. Pls give longer answers with explanations...thank you.
ok, i CANNOT possibly just go and check the dictionary for this.
My task was to RESEARCH on MECHANISMS(with 2 parts):
a) What are mechanisms?
b)Types of mechanisms -
i)cams and followers
ii)levers
iii)linkages
iv)gears
v)pulleys


So yeah, i just need to have a long explanation/definition/meaning/or whatever(im not too sure myself)on what are mechanisms. i can find the b) myself. I need to write something like an ESSAY on a). so, checking dictionart isnt enough. HELP EVERYONE!!!!

Answer 1

well, 'what is is a mechanism?' is linked to the phrase 'mechanical advantage' and machine, alll derived from the greek word for machine. anytime you combine two or more parts to peform a motion that changes the magnitude and/or direction of an applied force, you have created a mechanism. so if you push on one end and that force is changed to work in another direction or amount of force, that is a mechanissm.
as to the list of mechs,
i) changes rotational force to linear force. the motor (or whatever) turns the cam. the follower is pushed away from (or pullled toward if the cam has a channel) the center of the cam.
ii) a lever is the classic example. alever is pushed on one end and it rotates around a pivot to push on something else. this changes the direction and usually changes the force by having a long and short arm of the lever.
iii) linkages are complex assemblies. the term suggests small levers that are attached to other levers or rods etc. or cables or a change from a push rod to a rotating part.
iv) gears change the applied force by using different sized gears. if a small gear turns a large gear the torque (rotational force) goes up, but the speed goes down.
v) pulleys are similar to gears but rather than touching they are connected by cables. in additionto changing the torque like a gear does, they have the possibility of changing location themselves which can be used as a conversion from rotatinal to linear force. this is the case of the crane. the cable turns the pulley but the important point is that the pulleys themselves rise.
hope this helps

Answer 2

What Are Mechanisms