Transcript Science 8: Unit D – Mechanical Systems

Science 8: Unit D –
Mechanical Systems
Topic 6: Combining Systems
Subsystem
Most machines today are combinations of
many different simple machines working
together.
 Most complex machines such as an
automobile have multiple separate, but
related functions. A car accelerates, and
slows down through different subsystems.
 Subsystem – the entire set of machines
that are responsible for a function in a
complex machine.

Example
One of the functions of a car is braking.
So the car has a braking subsystem
 This subsystem consists of the brake
pedal, piston, master cylinder, brake fluid,
wheel cylinder, brake pads, and brake
discs.
 If one of these devices were to
malfunction, braking power would drop or
fail completely.
