Hacker News with Generative AI: Mechanics

The Problem with Sci-Fi Body Armor (acoup.blog)
This week we’re covering the winning topic from the latest ACOUP Senate poll, which is a look at some of the odd designs and mechanics for futuristic science fiction body armor, particularly rigid ‘hardsuits.’ Naturally, this post isn’t going to cover every variety of armor that appears in science fiction, so I want to be clear that I am generally limiting my scope here to rigid non-powered armor.

Science Fiction, Body Armor, Design, Mechanics

129 points by Tomte 49 days ago | 62 comments

Energy is frame-dependent, infrastructure of energy is frame-independent (2020) (blogspot.com)
The concept of energy and the elaborate mathematical infrastructure that surrounds it are so fundamental to mechanics that they are generally introduced less than half-way through the first semester of the introductory course in a college classroom (true whether you are doing a force-first or momentum-first introduction).

Physics, Mechanics, Education

21 points by leonry 56 days ago | 5 comments

A 15-minute intro to involute gears (lcamtuf.substack.com)
Involute gears are everywhere: toys, kitchen appliances, cars. But what's so special about their shape?

Engineering, Mechanics, Design, Mathematics

77 points by lapnect 62 days ago | 16 comments

Understanding Ship Rudders: Types and Functions (medium.com)
Ship rudders serve as a critical component in maritime navigation, playing a fundamental role in steering vessels by manipulating the flow of water past the hull.

Maritime Navigation, Engineering, Ships, Mechanics, Technology

3 points by squircle 93 days ago | 0 comments

The Physics of Colliding Balls (vanhunteradams.com)
Consider the case of one ball of mass $m$ approaching and striking a stationary ball of mass $M$. As we'll see, solving this problem sets us up to solve arbitrary collisions.

Physics, Mechanics, Collisions

67 points by vha3 113 days ago | 21 comments

Calculating the Mechanical Advantage of Cantilever Brakes [video] (youtube.com)

Engineering, Mechanics, Video, Cantilever Brakes

4 points by greener_grass 130 days ago | 0 comments

Failing starter motor – why does whacking it help? (stackexchange.com)

Cars, Mechanics, Troubleshooting

5 points by squircle 156 days ago | 2 comments

Direct-Drive Bicycle (velotegra.com)

Bicycles, Mechanics, Innovation

7 points by aaronetz 165 days ago | 9 comments

A Different Kind of Disc Brake: 1949 Chrysler (2023) (macsmotorcitygarage.com)