High School How does mechanical motion start at the deepest, smallest level?

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The discussion explores how mechanical motion initiates at the molecular level in machines, contrasting it with the motion of magnetic materials. Participants examine the role of waves—compression, tension, and shear—in propagating motion through materials, questioning how an object accelerates from rest. A specific example of a car engine illustrates that motion begins with a chemical reaction that rapidly mobilizes gas molecules, creating a chain reaction of mechanical waves. The conversation highlights the complexity of understanding motion initiation in non-magnetic and non-chemical systems, such as electric machines. Ultimately, clarity on the starting point of motion in various contexts remains a key challenge.
  • #31
Well, it is difficult to choose which turtle! This is all a little bit difuse for sure.
 
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  • #32
Why the focus on electricity and magnetism?

An alternative is pendulum clocks that can be powered by gravity and initiated by the user moving the pendulum to one side. A key part of the mechanism is an "escapement".

Or the turbines in a hydroelectric dam that are ultimately powered by hydrogen fusion and initiated by the user turning a valve in a penstock.
 
  • #33
jbriggs444 said:
... the turbines in a hydroelectric dam that are ultimately powered by hydrogen fusion ...
Er what?

Oh, you mean ultimately ultimately!
 
  • #34
Sol, the great evaporator.....
 
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  • #35
Thanks for everyone's replies, gained a much better understanding, and I'll watch the videos on the way to work tonight.
 
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  • #36
Dale said:
It comes from me
Frabjous said:
For non-rigid bodies, waves are how the rest of the body learns that something happened at a location
Sorry for what appears to be an 'flaming' post.
Transient response of system is a broad field on its own, with either discrete lumped elements or with a continuum medium.
 
  • #37
hutchphd said:
The great R P Feynman gave this some thought. The first part of this interview is wonderful, in my opinion.
Please give it your attention.

Great video! A physicist who realizes the value of imagination and visualizing the currently unviewable parts of physics.

Thinking something people would really enjoy is a 'Feynman forums' where physics people can team up with visual artists to 'explain like they're Feynman'.

Visuals for the travel of energy from the net motions of electrons into fields could've been such a benefit to his explanation, and the types of visuals today are really advanced and so much more available to everyday people.
256bits said:
Sorry for what appears to be an 'flaming' post.
Transient response of system is a broad field on its own, with either discrete lumped elements or with a continuum medium.
Seems totally reasonable, not flaming at all.
 

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