Short answers, pulled from the story.
Mechanical engineering is the study of physical machines and mechanisms that may involve force and movement. It combines engineering physics and mathematics with materials science to design, analyze, manufacture, and maintain mechanical systems, and it is one of the oldest and broadest of the engineering branches.
Mechanical engineering emerged as a field during the Industrial Revolution in Europe in the 18th century, though its development can be traced back several thousand years around the world. In the 19th century, developments in physics led to the development of mechanical engineering science.
Mechanical engineering programs typically take four to five years of study depending on the place and university. In Spain, Portugal, and most of South America the coursework is based on five or six years, while Italy and Greece use five-year curricula.
In the US, an engineer must pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, work a minimum of four years as an Engineer-in-Training, and pass the Principles and Practice exam. These requirements are set by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying.
In 2012, the median annual income of mechanical engineers in the US workforce was $80,580. The median income was highest in government work at $92,030 and lowest in education at $57,090.
Mechanical engineering subdisciplines include mechanics, mechatronics and robotics, structural analysis, thermodynamics and thermal engineering, design and drafting, biomechanics, computational fluid dynamics, and acoustical engineering. Mechanics itself includes statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, fluid mechanics, kinematics, and continuum mechanics.
Cutting-edge areas include micro electro-mechanical systems, friction stir welding discovered in 1991 by The Welding Institute, composites, mechatronics, nanotechnology, finite element analysis, and computational fluid dynamics. Mechanical engineers are also pursuing developments in composites, mechatronics, and nanotechnology.