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I always think ELI5 explanations of mechanical systems are deceptively simple. Thay usually boil down to "things pushing other things to make something move," but that hides a lot of complexity. For example, even something seemingly simple like a bicycle involves a whole chain of forces and energy transfers. You push the pedals, which turn the crank, which pulls the chain, which turns the rear wheel.And that's before you even consider the gears, which change the mechanical advantage and allow you to go faster or climb hills more easily.
It's also easy to overlook the importance of the frame and other structural components. They don't directly make anything move, but they need to be strong enough to withstand all the forces involved and hold everything in the correct alignment.without that, the whole system would fall apart! Anyone ever try riding a bike wiht a slightly bent frame and feel how much harder it is? It's a grate example of how even a subtle change to one component can drastically affect the system's performance. What are some other examples of seemingly simple mechanical systems that are surprisingly complex when you realy break them down?