In engineering mechanics, what does "kinematics" involve?

Kinematics is a fundamental branch of mechanics that specifically focuses on the study of motion. It examines how objects move, describing their positions, velocities, and accelerations without considering the forces that cause this motion. This aspect is essential because it allows engineers to understand motion dynamics and predict how objects behave in various scenarios, which is crucial in design and analysis in engineering applications.

In contrast, the other choices pertain to different areas within mechanics. The study of forces and their effects relates to dynamics, energy transformations are analyzed in thermodynamics or energy systems, and the design of mechanical components falls under mechanical design. Each of these aspects is important in engineering, but they do not define kinematics, which is strictly concerned with the motion of objects.