How do gears make life easier?
When a smaller gear drives a larger gear, the larger gear turns with more force. This is force magnification.
When a larger gear drives a smaller gear, the smaller gear completes its turns faster. The gears are magnifying a movement.
When a series of gears are joined together, they can transfer motion energy across the whole series.
A series of gears is what moves your toy animal in the Factory’s Gear Race. Remember: If you want to go fastest, start with the largest gear. If you want to race with less effort, start with the smallest!
Everyday uses of gears
While the word ‘gears’ tends to bring to mind a circular wheel with teeth, there are actually many different gear shapes out there!
- Standard gears that mesh together side-by-side are known as spur gears. You can find these in the Factory’s Gear Race as well as in mechanical clocks and watches.
- Bevelled gears are shaped like cones that have had their tops cut off. They fit together at an angle and are used to change the direction of rotation. In the Factory’s Differential with a Difference, they connect the car’s drive shaft with its wheels.
- Spur gears have “teeth” that push on each other as they turn. The Factory’s Energy Machine uses spur gears to make chickens peck and eggs hatch.
