Part 1, The Mechanics of Movement Summary and Analysis

The Way Things Work by David Macaulay is an accessible guide to the workings of machines. The conservation of energy is the scientific principle which underlies or is involved in every machine. Mechanical, chemical, and nuclear energy make up the foundation of this book's text; however, the vast amounts of scientific explanation are supported with humor, diagrams, illustrations, and the observation of simple everyday tools.

Part One, The Mechanics of Movement, states that to understand the way things work, one needs to understand the underlying principles. The principle behind the action of any machine is the conservation of energy which is not, as the author points out, about saving energy. The principle of the conservation of energy states that energy is neither created nor destroyed. The Mechanics of Movement explores this principle as...