The concept of mechanism has its origin in the Latin term mechanism and refers to the totality that make up the various components of a machinery and that they are in the right disposition for their proper operation.
In the machines, the mechanism is called grouping its components that they are mobile and are linked to each other through various kinds of unions; This means that said structure can transmit forces and movements. The mechanism is responsible for allowing such transmission.
Some examples where the term appears: “I do not understand the mechanism of this machine: why is it not working properly?”, “I need to buy some parts to repair the clock mechanism”.
The set of moving components of a machine is known as a mechanism.
Components of a mechanism
For a mechanism to be considered as such, it must be formed by a component series, which are: link (rigid element that transmits movement from one place to another essential for the mechanism to activate), node (unifies two links with each other so that the movement is communicated through it) and Council, also known as kinematic pair, (allows link and node to function correctly, indicating the union between the different links as parts of a whole).
Mechanisms can be classified according to many variables:
*According to number of links they can be of type binaries, ternaries or quaternary
* According to the function they can be fixed, drivers, transducers or driven
* According to movement that cause can be fixed, crank, connecting rod or sliding.
On the other hand, with respect to the nodes, depending on which ones are used in the structure, the type of mechanism will vary because the movement will be diverse. In the case of the crank, for example, the movement it performs is rotary, while the movement carried out by a mechanism with a slide is of translation.
The idea of mechanism can be associated with operation.
Other uses of the term
But a mechanism does not only refer to a physical and solid structure that allows a movement to be carried out continuously causing chain consequences. The dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy adds that the notion can refer to the structural composition of a body (which can be both natural and artificial) and to the way in which its constituent parts are combined.
Sometimes the term can refer to something abstract, as is the case with defense mechanisms. The latter is a concept used in psychology to express those cognitive actions that take place in a person’s life to defend themselves from possible external dangers. For example, those who have suffered sexual abuse, possibly as adults, tend to boycott any situation in which they may be involved in a sexual act or in which they feel sexually desired.
The mechanism as a means or methodology
Mechanisms are also known as those media that are used in the arts to carry out a social movement that generates change, or the phases that occur within the framework of a certain procedure.
At colloquial language, the notion of mechanism is used with reference to a methodology or a functioning. In this sense, the mechanisms can be physical or abstract and refer to real or symbolic issues.
The manager of a businessTherefore, you can ask the employee who made you a proposal about the launch of a new product what would be the mechanism that he thought to get the novelty installed on the market. The coach of a team of footballFor his part, he can design various defense mechanisms to contain the opponent’s attacks.
Leave a Reply