Mechanics in the United States

Abstract

There was relatively little science-based mechanics in the United States at the beginning of the twentieth century. However, the invention of human-powered flight by the Wright Brothers in 1903 and engineering advancements related to World War I (1914–1918) jump-started the growth of science-based mechanics. This was true initially in Europe. The interest in mechanics was due in large part to the desire for a better understanding of aerodynamics. In the United States, it was realized, somewhat belatedly, that there was an urgent need for science-based mechanics, and science-based engineering in general, if the country was to be militarily and economically competitive. The activities in mechanics played a leading role in the establishment of science-based engineering design, manufacturing, and engineering education in the United States. The science-based developments relied much more heavily on mathematics for analytical approaches to the formulation and solution of engineering problems. Prior to these developments, empirical methods (knowledge gained by observation) were the standard approach for understanding physical phenomena. The following paragraphs describe some of the major events that influenced the conversion to science-based mechanics in the United States.