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machine is any
device that uses
energy to perform some activity. In common usage, the meaning is that of a device having parts that perform or assist in performing any type of
work. A
simple machine is a device that transforms the direction or magnitude of a
force without consuming any energy. The word "machine" is derived from the
Latin word
machina.
[The American Heritage Dictionary, Second College Edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., 1985.] Usage
Historically, a device required moving parts to be classified as a machine; however, the advent of
electronics technology has led to the development of devices without moving parts that are considered machines—the
computer being the most obvious example.
"Engines" are machines that convert heat or other forms of energy into mechanical energy. For example, in an internal combustion engine the expansion of gases caused by the heat from an exothermic chemical reaction results in a force being applied to a movable component, such as a piston or turbine blade.
Machines are ubiquitous in a wide variety of industrial, commercial, residential and transportation applications. Those employing hydraulics are especially useful in manufacturing and construction. Types of machines and related components
See also
