Introducing the world of mechanical engineering through a lively, readable text and numerous knowledge-check questions, activities and exercises, this book has been designed as a full programme of study for mechanical engineering option units followed by students on mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, and operations and maintenance BTEC National Certificate and National Diploma courses. The author has structured the material so that manageable sections of text are complemented by in-text questions and features such as test your knowledge, activity and maths in action panels, so that this book should be suitable for student-centred classroom learning and independent study. Written for the 2002 BTEC National specifications, this book should also be useful as an option unit resource for AVCE.