1. What is Gear Ratio?

The gear ratio is the ratio of the number of teeth on the driven gear to the number of teeth on the driver gear. It determines the mechanical advantage and speed relationship between the input and output of a gear system.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the gear ratio formula:

Where:

• \( Teeth Driven \) — Number of teeth on the driven gear
• \( Teeth Driver \) — Number of teeth on the driver gear

Explanation: A higher gear ratio means more torque but less speed, while a lower ratio means more speed but less torque.

3. Importance of Gear Ratio

Details: Proper gear ratio selection is crucial for optimal performance in race cars and bikes, affecting acceleration, top speed, and fuel efficiency.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of teeth on both gears (must be positive integers). The calculator will compute the ratio which helps in tuning vehicle performance.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a typical gear ratio for race cars?
A: Race cars typically have ratios between 3:1 to 5:1, depending on the track and desired performance characteristics.

Q2: How does gear ratio affect acceleration?
A: Higher gear ratios (numerically larger) provide better acceleration but lower top speed, while lower ratios provide higher top speed but slower acceleration.

Q3: What's the difference between gear ratio and final drive ratio?
A: Gear ratio refers to individual gear pairs, while final drive ratio includes all gear reductions in the drivetrain.

Q4: Can I use this for bicycle gearing?
A: Yes, the same principle applies to bicycle chainrings and cassettes.

Q5: What's the relationship between gear ratio and RPM?
A: Output RPM = Input RPM / Gear Ratio. Higher ratios reduce output RPM while increasing torque.