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.

New worksheetPractise online with hints

For teachers: free to print, copy and use in class. Every new worksheet has new values and its own answer key. A link to ExamProblems on your course page is appreciated.

Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy
N1​ = 16N2​ = ?

A pinion with 16 teeth is driven at 1800 rpm. The driven gear must turn at 400 rpm. How many teeth N2 must the driven gear have?

N1 = 16n1 = 1800 rpmn2 = 400 rpm
N2 =
2.Easy
A = 50B = 16C = 36

Gear A (50 teeth) turns at 600 rpm and drives an idler gear B (16 teeth), which in turn drives gear C (36 teeth). All three gears are on separate shafts. Find the speed nC of gear C.

NA = 50NB = 16NC = 36nA = 600 rpm
nC = rpm
3.Medium
N1​ = 15N2​ = 60

A 15 kW motor running at 2900 rpm drives a pinion with 15 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 60 teeth. Ignore losses. Find the torque T1 on the motor shaft.

P = 15 kWn1 = 2900 rpmN1 = 15N2 = 60η = 100%
T1 = N·m
4.Medium
N1​ = 25N2​ = 60

A 2.2 kW motor running at 2900 rpm drives a pinion with 25 teeth, which meshes with a gear with 60 teeth. The gear pair has an efficiency of 96%. Find the torque T1 on the motor shaft.

P = 2.2 kWn1 = 2900 rpmN1 = 25N2 = 60η = 96%
T1 = N·m
5.Hard
A = 12B = 40C = 48D = 80

A 5.5 kW motor at 1450 rpm drives gear A (12 teeth), which meshes with gear B (40 teeth). Gear C (48 teeth) on the same shaft as B drives gear D (80 teeth) on the output shaft. Each gear mesh has an efficiency of 97%. Find the output torque Tout.

P = 5.5 kWnin = 1450 rpmA = 12B = 40C = 48D = 80ηmesh = 97%
Tout = N·m
6.Hard
A = 20B = 24C = 15D = 25

In a compound gear train, gear A (20 teeth) on the input shaft turning at 960 rpm drives gear B (24 teeth). Gear C (15 teeth) is fixed to the same shaft as B and drives gear D (25 teeth) on the output shaft. Find the output speed nout.

nin = 960 rpmA = 20B = 24C = 15D = 25
nout = rpm

Answer key

  1. 1. N2 = 72
  2. 2. nC = 833.3 rpm
  3. 3. T1 = 49.39 N·m
  4. 4. T1 = 7.244 N·m
  5. 5. Tout = 189.3 N·m
  6. 6. nout = 480 rpm

Full step-by-step solutions: practise this topic on examproblems.com.