In a gearbox, what is the relationship between input speed and output speed defined by?

The relationship between input speed and output speed in a gearbox is defined by the gear ratio. The gear ratio is a crucial concept in mechanics that describes how many turns the input gear will make compared to the output gear. It is calculated by dividing the number of teeth on the output gear by the number of teeth on the input gear.

This ratio directly affects the speed and torque output of the system. For instance, a gear ratio of 4:1 means that for every four turns of the input gear, the output gear will complete one turn. This not only means that the output speed will be reduced, but the output torque will increase correspondingly, adhering to the principle of conservation of energy in mechanical systems.

Understanding the gear ratio is vital for applications requiring precise speed and torque outputs, such as in industrial machinery and automotive applications, where adjusting the speed and torque is necessary for effective performance.