What is the relationship between teeth count and rotational speed in meshed gears?

The concept of how gear teeth count affects rotational speed is crucial in understanding gear mechanics. When gears are meshed together, the speed at which one gear rotates is inversely related to the number of teeth on that gear. This means that a gear with fewer teeth will turn faster than a gear with more teeth when they are engaged.

When two gears are in mesh, the speed of the input gear (the one being driven) is divided among the teeth of both gears. Therefore, if the driving gear has a lower tooth count, it will complete a rotation more quickly, resulting in higher rotational speed. Conversely, a gear with a higher tooth count will move more slowly. This principle is often demonstrated in simple gear train configurations where the gear ratio is determined by the number of teeth on each gear.

This relationship is fundamental for applications requiring precise speed control and torque adjustments in various machinery and mechanical systems. Understanding it helps in selecting the appropriate gear sizes to achieve desired motion characteristics, making it a key concept in mechanical engineering and millwright practices.