Mechanical engineering is the study, design, development, construction, and testing of mechanical and thermal sensors and devices, including tools, engines, and machines. Mechanical engineering careers center on creating technologies to meet a wide range of human needs.
Mechanical engineering subjects include automobile engineering, manufacturing engineering, power plant engineering, thermal engineering, and mechatronics engineering, which is a combination of electrical, computer, and mechanical engineering.
What do mechanical engineers do? Mechanical engineers generally work in offices but are sometimes called to the field, visiting worksites when a problem or piece of equipment needs their personal attention, and to oversee elements of construction. Mechanical engineers work mostly in engineering services, research and development, and manufacturing.
Mechanical engineering has its roots in the industrial revolution with the advent of the steam engine, automated manufacturing, and the demands of railroad transportation requiring increasingly innovative and sophisticated engineering solutions.EdX offers online mechanical engineering courses for free from top engineering schools. Whether you're interested in learning more about the history of mechanical engineering, or you want to pursue a mechanical engineering degree, there’s an opportunity for you to go beyond perusing mechanical engineering books and learn online.