gear ratios
Teeth count comparisons
Gear ratios describe the relationship between two connected gears, expressed as the number of teeth on one divided by the number on the other.
A higher ratio means more torque but less speed; a lower ratio means more speed but less torque.
In vehicles, gear ratios determine how engine power translates to wheel rotation: first gear has a high ratio for acceleration, while fifth gear has a low ratio for highway cruising.
The concept extends to any system where rotating parts mesh—bicycles, clocks, industrial machinery.
- drivetrainVehicle power transmission system
- sprocketToothed wheel for chains
- chainringBicycle's front sprocket
- transmissionSending of information
- mechanical advantageForce output over input
torque · clutch · overdrive · hill climbing · derailleur · differential · pinion · cassette · reductions · shifter · cog · rack and pinion · bicycle · leverage · mesh · speed · top speed · spin out
- Car Specshorsepower, torque, MPG, RPM, fuel economy
- gearscog, pinion, cogs, rack, mesh
- manual transmissionclutch, shift, shifter, stick shift, clutch pedal
- automatic transmissionstorque converter, transmission fluid, overdrive, neutral, kickdown
- fishing gearfishing rod, hook, spinning rod, spinning reel, nets
- Car Manualsowner's manual, repair manual, service manual, shop manual, workshop manual
gear ratiosdirect drive
Transmission without intermediate gears
CVT · belt drive · single speed · single-speed · 1
gear, ratio, gears, geared, reduction gear, gearing, gearbox, gearboxes, undergear