352 Engineering Fundamentals
manufacturing engineering: The design of
machines, tools, and processes used to
manufacture goods. (1, 14)
mass balance: A property founded in the law of the
conservation of matter, which states that matter
cannot be created or destroyed and, therefore,
must be constant in a closed loop. (15)
mass fl owmeter: A type of fl owmeter that
measures the mass rather than the volume. (15)
material safety data sheets (MSDS): An
information sheet that includes a chemical’s
common name and chemical name, hazard
warnings, and the manufacturer’s name and
address. (15)
materials engineering: The understanding and
modifi cation of the structure and properties
of materials to improve the performance and
processing of the material. (1, 7)
materials handling: The movement of materials
and products through a plant. (14)
mathematical model: A type of model used
to fi nd solutions to problems using
mathematical prediction. (6)
mechanical advantage: The number of times a
machine or tool multiplies the input force to
move a load. (10)
mechanical drawing: A highly accurate technical
drawing meant to communicate the size and
shape of objects in great detail. (2)
mechanical energy: Energy in motion that uses
mechanical devices for conversion. (10)
mechanical engineering: The designing,
building, and maintaining of mechanical and
fl uid systems. (1, 10)
mechanical fl owmeter: A type of fl owmeter that
uses a variety of mechanical devices inside of
a pipe to measure fl ow. (15)
mechanics: The study forces and motion on
physical objects. (9)
melting point: The temperature at which the
material changes from a solid to a liquid. (7)
metal: A chemical element that belongs to one
of the families of metals on the periodic
table; a type of inorganic material with good
conductivity to heat and electricity. (7, 14)
mining: The process used to extract materials like
metals, coal, uranium, iron, diamonds, and
stone from beneath the surface of the earth. (14)
mock-up: A physical model used to show the
design of an object. (6)
monoclonal antibodies: Antibodies that work
like natural antibodies in the body by
fi nding the unwanted germ and attacking,
to which treatments or medicines can be
attached. (11)
motor: A device that uses magnetism to change
electrical energy to mechanical energy. (8)
multiview drawing: A drawing with true shape
that shows what a part will look like from
a given direction. See also orthographic
drawing. (2)
N
NAND gate: A gate that is a combination of
a NOT and an AND gate. If either or both
inputs are 1, then the output is 0. (12)
nanoparticle: The most basic component at the
nanoscale. (7)
nanotechnology: The design of new materials
and devices at the scale of a nanometer. (7)
nanotubes: Nano-sized cylinders of carbon. (7)
nanowire: A small strand of material that ranges
1 nm–60 nm in width. (7)
natural selection: The ability of living organisms
to adapt to their environment through the
natural change of characteristics that are
needed to help the organism survive. (11)
negative impact: The costs or effects that cause
damage to people or the environment. (16)
neutron: A subatomic particle with a neutral
charge. (8)
Newton’s third law of motion: The law that
states that for every action there is an equal
and opposite reaction. (13)
nondestructive material test: A test that leaves
the material intact and does not destroy the
material. (7)
NOR gate: A gate that is a combination of an
OR and a NOT gate. If both inputs are 0, the
output is 1. If either or both inputs are 1, then
the output is 0. (12)
NOT gate: A gate that is also called an inverter
because it changes the input. If the input is 1,
then the output is 0. If the input is 0, then the
output is 1. (12)