Which gear would rotate faster if gear A has 36 teeth and gear B has 20 teeth?

Prepare for the FAA General Test with engaging quizzes featuring flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question includes hints and explanations. Boost your confidence and ace your exam!

When two gears are meshed together, the speed at which they rotate is inversely proportional to the number of teeth each gear has. This means that gears with fewer teeth will rotate faster compared to gears with more teeth, given they are interconnected.

In this scenario, gear A has 36 teeth, and gear B has 20 teeth. Because gear B has fewer teeth, it will complete a full rotation more quickly than gear A when they are engaged.

As gear A rotates, it moves its 36 teeth into contact with the 20 teeth of gear B. For each full turn of gear A, gear B will make more than one complete rotation due to the difference in teeth count. Specifically, for every rotation of gear A, gear B will rotate 1.8 times (which is derived from the ratio of the number of teeth).

Thus, gear B's design with fewer teeth ensures that it rotates faster than gear A when they are paired. This principle is fundamental in gear mechanics and is essential for understanding how gear systems create mechanical advantage.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy