Calculating Gear Ratios for a Bicycle

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter heat transfer
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Bicycle Gear Ratios
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating gear ratios for bicycles, emphasizing the method of dividing the number of teeth on the front sprocket by the number of teeth on the rear sprocket. For example, a front sprocket with 100 teeth and a rear sprocket with 10 teeth results in a gear ratio of 10:1. Additionally, participants highlight the importance of comparing the radii of the gears, which correlates with the number of teeth, ensuring that the teeth sizes are compatible for proper meshing. This concept is likened to the mechanical advantage found in pulley systems.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of gear mechanics
  • Familiarity with bicycle components
  • Basic mathematical skills for ratio calculations
  • Knowledge of mechanical advantage principles
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the impact of gear ratios on bicycle performance
  • Learn about different types of bicycle gearing systems
  • Explore the relationship between gear ratios and cadence
  • Investigate the mechanics of pulleys and their applications in engineering
USEFUL FOR

Cyclists, mechanical engineers, and anyone interested in understanding bicycle mechanics and performance optimization.

heat transfer
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
hello, i got this project on how a bicycle operate, and my part is to calculate the gear ratios of the bike, so can anyone share with me the step on finding the gear ratio of bicycle
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I think you just divide the number of teeth on the front sprocket by the teeth on the back, e.g., 100 front 10 back = 10 to 1
 
Post # 2 is correct...It is also correct to compare the radius of the two gears...which is proportionate to the # of teeth since C = 2(pi) r...noting that the teeth on the two gears must be the same size to mesh...

This is analogous to the mechanical advantage of pulleys...say one on an engine and another on an accessory, like an alternator...where comparison the radii gives the ratio of the rotational speeds...
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

Undergrad Gearbox Gear ratio: How to get 60 rpm to 3500rpm? help please
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
High School Understanding Bicycle Gear Ratios
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad Making a "Planetary Gear Set" using a 3D printer and PLA material
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Undergrad Calculate acceleration from power/torque graphs
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
969
High School What is the entire gear reduction ratio of a vehicle?
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
4K
Undergrad How to select gear/sprocket ratios for vehicle?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
16K
Undergrad Bicycle Questions: Static Friction & Gear Ratios
  • · Replies 71 ·
3
Replies
71
Views
7K
Undergrad What is the Torque at the rear wheel in this gear setup ?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad Bicycles: Question about Energy Conservation
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
1K
Undergrad Increasing the output torque of a DC motor with gears
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
4K