Mechanical engineering is an engineering discipline that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing , and maintenance of mechanical systems . It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the design, production, and operation of machines and tools .^[1a] It is one of the oldest and broadest engineering disciplines . The field requires a solid understanding of core concepts including mechanics , kinematics, thermodynamics, materials science , and structural analysis .