Gears & gear trains worksheet with answers

Free printable Gears & gear trains worksheet: 6 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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1.Easy
d1​ = 150 mmd2​ = 450 mm720 rpmn2​ = ?

A motor turning at 720 rpm drives a 150 mm pulley. A belt connects it to a 450 mm pulley. Assuming no slip, find the speed n2 of the driven pulley.

n1 = 720 rpmd1 = 150 mmd2 = 450 mm
n2 = rpm
2.Easy
A = 36B = 24C = 60

Gear A (36 teeth) turns at 1440 rpm and drives an idler gear B (24 teeth), which in turn drives gear C (60 teeth). All three gears are on separate shafts. Find the speed nC of gear C.

NA = 36NB = 24NC = 60nA = 1440 rpm
nC = rpm
3.Medium
N1​ = 25N2​ = 36

A 1.5 kW motor running at 1440 rpm drives a pinion with 25 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 36 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 97%. Find the torque T1 on the motor shaft.

P = 1.5 kWn1 = 1440 rpmN1 = 25N2 = 36η = 97%
T1 = N·m
4.Medium
N1​ = 12N2​ = 16

A 5.5 kW motor running at 960 rpm drives a pinion with 12 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 16 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 95%. Find the output torque T2 on the gear shaft.

P = 5.5 kWn1 = 960 rpmN1 = 12N2 = 16η = 95%
T2 = N·m
5.Hard
A = 15B = 48C = 15D = 20

In a compound gear train, gear A (15 teeth) on the input shaft turning at 1440 rpm drives gear B (48 teeth). Gear C (15 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D (20 teeth) on the output shaft. Find the output speed nout.

nin = 1440 rpmA = 15B = 48C = 15D = 20
nout = rpm
6.Hard
A = 12B = 72C = 25D = 32

In a compound gear train, gear A (12 teeth) on the input shaft turning at 960 rpm drives gear B (72 teeth). Gear C (25 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D (32 teeth) on the output shaft. Find the output speed nout.

nin = 960 rpmA = 12B = 72C = 25D = 32
nout = rpm

Answer key

  1. 1. n2 = 240 rpm
  2. 2. nC = 864 rpm
  3. 3. T1 = 9.947 N·m
  4. 4. T2 = 69.3 N·m
  5. 5. nout = 337.5 rpm
  6. 6. nout = 125 rpm

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