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In graph Frontier

Simple machine

A simple machine is a mechanical device that changes the direction or magnitude of a force.

At a glance

Type
energy
Mental models 1
Role in the graph
Connector

Key signals

Cross-disciplinary reach
Disciplines
2
  • Physics
  • Mechanical Engineering
Evidence & development

Dependencies

What this concept builds on and what it makes possible — derived from the atlas’s dependency, causal and structural relations, not from every related edge.

System context

Leveris aSimple machineEstablished

Open Lever →

lever is a kind of simple machine.

Mechanism: A lever is a simple machine: a rigid bar pivoting on a fulcrum that trades distance for force to lift heavy loads with less effort.

Sources:

Structural role & consequence

Interpreted from the current atlas graph — what the connections mean, not just how many there are.

  • Currently dark in the atlas: no key date stored · 2 of 2 of its relations lack claim-level evidence.

    atlas representation · Describes the current Thinking OS representation, not the state of the world.

  • Structural neighbourhood: 2 → 5 → 21 concepts reachable within 3 hops.

    structural · Structural reach — being reachable is not the same as being understood.

  • All 2 of its relationships stay within its own discipline — a field-specific concept in the current atlas.

    structural · Structural graph analysis — not a claim of importance, causation or history.

0%

cross-field
2 within-field, 0 cross-field

0 of 2 relations carry evidence · concept has a verified source

Strengths & constraints

Constraints

  • Evidence coverage currently thin in the atlas — few of its relationships carry claim-level evidence. atlas representation
  • No dated history stored — the atlas records no key date for this concept. atlas representation

Conditions

  • Read structurally — most of its relationships carry no external evidence yet, so claims here are graph-derived. structural

Seen through each discipline

How this concept sits in each of its fields — derived from its real connections in the graph, not asserted.

Physics

Through this lens it connects to Work and Lever.

Simple machine through the Physics lens

Mechanical Engineering

Through this lens it connects to Lever.

Simple machine through the Mechanical Engineering lens

Concepts that look related but are not yet connected here — candidates for a connection to reason about, not established links.

This idea also appears in…

The same structure shows up in other disciplines. These are real recurrences drawn from the graph — a starting point for asking “what carries over, and what changes?”

Trade-offs42 disciplines · 31 concepts
Political Science
Statistics
Sustainability Science
Systems Engineering
Cultural Studies
Data Science
Design
Ecology
Energy Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Evolutionary Biology
Human-Computer Interaction
Industrial Design
Information Theory
Machine Learning
Materials Engineering
Mathematical Modelling
Mathematics
Mechanics
Medicine
Nutrition Science
Physical Chemistry
See the pattern →

Concepts

  • Trade-offEconomicsEngineeringBiology

    shares a mental model

  • OptimizationOptimizationEngineeringEconomics

    shares a mental model

  • RiskEconomicsStatisticsMedicine

    shares a mental model

  • ScarcityEconomicsEcologyPolitical Science

    shares a mental model

  • AgricultureEconomicsBiologyGeography

    shares a mental model

  • EfficiencyEngineeringEconomicsEnvironmental Engineering

    shares a mental model

Mental models at work here

The scientific picture
  • Connects 2 other ideas across 2 disciplines.
  • Most of its connections are of the “Kind & structure” kind.
  • It exercises 1 reusable thinking pattern.

Derived from the graph’s real structure — observations, not a score.

Sources