Physics GCSE
gears
What gears means in Physics GCSE, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of gears
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Check what you remember
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Reference: OCR
Meshing gears transmit rotational effect, and the ratio of teeth numbers sets the force multiplication, with a larger driven gear increasing turning effect but reducing rotational speed.
Wheels whose teeth mesh so that neither slips and the turning effect is transmitted between two shafts, turning in opposite directions.
Topics that use gears
- Moments, levers and gears (physics only) (AQA GCSE)
- Forces in action (OCR GCSE)
Related terms
- principle of moments
- Area under a force–extension graph
- balanced beam
- Clockwise and anticlockwise rotation
- Constant versus changing ratio
- elastic deformation
- Elastic limit
- Elastic limit and permanent deformation
Using gears in the exam
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