Mechanical effect or Mechanical philosophy or Mechanical powers1
(Mech.), the measure of effective power; the power to raise a certain weight through a foot-space in a definite time. Nichol. — Mechanical philosophy, the principles of mechanics applied to the investigation of physical phenomena. — Mechanical powers, certain simple machines, such as the lever and its modifications, the wheel and axle, the pulley, the inclined plane with its modifications, the screw, and the wedge, which convert a small force acting through a great space into a great force acting through a small space, or vice versa, and are used separately or in combination. —
