Download Info on gears

Name: __________________________________- Date: ________________________________
Gears Information
Fill in the blanks while watching the video: https://youtu.be/0RGzUQ6LJnw
Gears are ___________________ with teeth on them that interlock with teeth from other gears. Gears
can be made from plastic or metal. Gears always work in ___________________. When teeth from two
gears are in contact, we say they are _________________.When three or more gears are used together
they are called a ___________________. Gears turn on an ______________ similar to a wheel. Gears
transfer _________________and _________________ from one object to another. They also change
the ________________and __________________of moving objects. Gears make work easier and faster.
On the image below, label the following: gear, teeth, axle, meshed area.
How do you make a gear train? ___________________________________________________________
How are gears and wheels similar? ________________________________________________________
Styrofoam Gear Experiment:
After you have made your gears:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Turn the larger gear and the smaller one with one turn.
Can you get the smaller gear to turn the larger one?
Can you get the big gear to turn the smaller one?
Now make a third gear, get the first gear to move the next two.
Observation: Answer the following questions:
1. Which directions do gears turn? ____________________________________________________
2. How does adding a third affect the direction the first and second gear turn?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. What do you notice when you put a smaller and large gear and turn the large gear?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4. To use less energy, and move something faster, which gear would you turn (use as the driver?)
______________________________________________________________________________
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Gears Information Answer Key
Gears are wheels with teeth on them that interlock with teeth from other gears. Gears can be made
from plastic or metal. Gears always work in pairs_. When teeth from two gears are in contact, we say
they are meshed. When three or more gears are used together they are called a gear train. Gears turn
on an axle, similar to a wheel. Gears transfer force and motion from one object to another. They also
change the speed and direction of moving objects. Gears make work easier and faster.
On the image below, label the following: gear, teeth, axle, meshed area.
How do you make a gear train? Combine 3 or more gears
How are gears and wheels similar? They both turn on an axle.
Making a Styrofoam Gear Experiment
After you have made your gears:
5.
6.
7.
8.
Turn the larger gear and the smaller one with one turn.
Can you get the smaller gear to turn the larger one?
Can you get the big gear to turn the smaller one?
Now make a third gear, get the first gear to move the next two.
Observation: Answer the following questions:
5. Which directions do gears turn? Gears turn in opposite directions.
6. How does adding a third affect the direction the first and second gear turn?
7. What do you notice when you put a smaller and large gear and turn the large gear, the small
gear will take less time to go around one full circle than the large gear. i.e. if you turn the big
gear one time, the small gear will turn twice.
8. To use less energy, and move something faster, its easier to turn the large gear than the small
gear.