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Gear ratio
What is a gear ratio?
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A gear ratio is a measure of the relationship between the rotational speeds of two or more gears in a mechanical system. It represents the number of turns or revolutions one gear makes in comparison to another gear in the same system.
To understand gear ratios, it’s helpful to know the basic components of a gear system. Gears consist of toothed wheels that interlock and transmit power between a driving gear (also known as the input gear) and a driven gear (also known as the output gear). The gear teeth mesh together, allowing the rotation of one gear to transfer to the other.
The gear ratio is typically expressed as a numerical value or a ratio. It describes how many times the driving gear must rotate to achieve one complete rotation of the driven gear. For example, a gear ratio of 2:1 means that the driving gear rotates twice for every one rotation of the driven gear.
Gear ratios can be used to increase or decrease rotational speed, torque, or both. In a system where the driving gear has a larger number of teeth than the driven gear, it is called a speed-reducing or torque-increasing gear ratio. Conversely, if the driven gear has more teeth, it is called a speed-increasing or torque-reducing gear ratio.
Gear ratios are widely used in various applications, such as automobiles, bicycles, industrial machinery, and many other mechanical systems. They allow for the efficient transfer of power and adaptation of rotational speeds to suit specific requirements.
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