Gear ratios
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Equation
[change | change source]A gear ratio compares how many times one gear turns relative to another.
It’s written as a fraction:
Gear Ratio = Number of teeth on output gear ÷ Number of teeth on input gear
So, if a gear with 10 teeth (input) turns a gear with 20 teeth (output):
Gear Ratio = 20⁄10 = 2⁄1
This means:
- The input gear must spin 2 times for the output gear to spin once
- The output gear spins slower, but with more torque
Likewise, if the input gear has 20 teeth and the output has 10 teeth:
Gear Ratio = 10⁄20 = 1⁄2
This means:
- The output gear spins twice as fast, but with half the torque
Gear Ratio Efficiency
[change | change source]- Higher ratio (>1) = more torque, less speed
- Lower ratio (<1) = more speed, less torque
References
[change | change source]- "Determine Gear Ratio". WikiHow. A step-by-step guide and diagram explaining how to calculate gear ratios by comparing gear teeth or diameters. Available at: https://www.wikihow.com/Determine-Gear-Ratio
- "Gear Ratios". HowStuffWorks – Auto. An article explaining how gear ratios affect vehicle speed and torque in practical settings. https://auto.howstuffworks.com/gear-ratio.htm
