Gears Trade Speed for Force
A gear is a toothed wheel, and also equipment. The mechanical sense rests on a simple trade.
A gear is a toothed wheel that engages with another, and also equipment or belongings. Gears exist to trade speed against force: a small wheel driving a large one turns it more slowly but with more torque, which is why a low gear climbs a hill and a high gear runs fast on the flat. Nothing is gained overall, only exchanged. The equipment sense is older, from Old Norse *gervi*, meaning apparel or apparatus.
- A toothed wheel. *First gear.*
- Equipment. *Camping gear.*
- To adapt. *Geared towards beginners.*
- In gear — engaged. *In gear.*
- Old Norse — *gervi*, equipment. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | gear | A gear. |
| Plural | gears | Gears. |
| Verb | gear | Geared. |
| Compound | gearbox | A gearbox. |
| Old Norse | gervi | Equipment. |
- Change into a lower gear.Driving.
- Pack your climbing gear.Equipment.
- The course is geared to novices.Verb.
What gears actually do
- A small wheel driving a large one reduces speed and increases torque
- A large wheel driving a small one does the reverse
- The ratio is simply the count of teeth
- Low gear gives force for climbing
- High gear gives speed on the flat
Old Norse *gervi*, equipment or apparel, with the mechanical sense from the 1500s.
Why does a low gear make climbing easier?
It trades speed for turning force. A small wheel driving a large one turns it more slowly but with more torque.
Which sense of gear came first?
Equipment. The word is Old Norse for apparel or apparatus, and the toothed wheel sense appeared later.