Which statement is true regarding the relationship between tooth design and load capacity?

Tooth design plays a significant role in determining the load capacity of gears. A well-designed tooth can improve the gear's ability to handle larger loads due to several factors, including tooth shape, material distribution, contact surface area, and the overall geometry of the tooth.

For instance, a tooth designed with proper profiles—like involute profiles—ensures a smoother engagement and disengagement process. This enhances the load-bearing capabilities, reduces wear, and minimizes the risk of catastrophic failure. Additionally, optimized tooth design can lead to better distribution of stress across the tooth, which helps in preventing concentrated loads that could jeopardize the integrity of the gear.

In contrast, a poorly designed tooth may lead to uneven stress concentrations, increasing the risk of tooth breakage or excessive wear, ultimately reducing the load capacity. Therefore, the statement that a well-designed tooth increases load capacity is accurate and reflects the critical influence of engineering in gear design and performance.