The Single Gear


A gear is a modification of the wheel and axle. It just has teeth around it. Like all simple machines, gears may change the direction in which a force is applied; or increase or reduce a force or the distance over which a force is applied.

 

 

The Gear Train

Gears work in teams. Two gears working together is called a gear train. The gear on the train to which the force is first applied is called the driver. The final gear on the train to which the force is first applied is called the driven gear. Any gears between the driver and the driven gears are called the idlers.

Notice the arrows on top of the gears. They are showing that the gears move in different directions.


Meshed Gears

The diagram below shows five meshed gears. The first gear that the force is applied is called the driver gear. Notice that the arrows show how the gears are turning. Every other gear is turning clockwise. The very last gear is the driven gear. All of the gears inbetween are called idlers.


Click here to learn more about Types of Gears . . .



Journey In Time || The Science of Gears