Tire Torque & Traction Force: Sprocket Attached to Rear Axel

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the relationship between torque at a sprocket attached to a rear axle and the torque at the tire. Participants explore the implications of angular momentum, torque calculations, and the effects of inertia and acceleration on these values. The scope includes theoretical considerations and practical applications related to mechanical systems.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that the torque at the sprocket is not the same as the torque at the tire, particularly when considering the radius differences.
  • Others argue that if the system is not accelerating, the sprocket torque equals the tire torque, suggesting a balance of moments.
  • A participant mentions that the torque at the tire can be expressed as T_{tire} = T_{sprocket} - Iα, where I is the inertia and α is the angular acceleration.
  • There is a claim that power remains constant across the system, leading to the conclusion that torque must be equal if angular velocities are the same.
  • Some participants highlight that losses (e.g., friction, bearing losses) can affect the relationship between sprocket and wheel power, complicating the equality of torque.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding whether the torque at the sprocket and tire can be considered equal under all conditions. Some assert equality under non-accelerating conditions, while others emphasize the differences due to radius and potential losses in the system.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include assumptions about system acceleration, the impact of inertia, and the presence of losses that may not be negligible in practical applications.

Aashish sarode
Messages
9
Reaction score
2
my sprocket is rigidly attached to rear axel ,is there any difference in torque at sprocket and tire?
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
What do you get if you apply an angular momentum balance to the wheel?
 
Chestermiller said:
What do you get if you apply an angular momentum balance to the wheel?
will you please elaborate your question?
 
Or more basically, suppose you have some torque at the sprocket. Would you have to exert more or less rotating force at the tire to create that same torque at the sprocket? Remember that torque = force times radius.
 
OldYat47 said:
Or more basically, suppose you have some torque at the sprocket. Would you have to exert more or less rotating force at the tire to create that same torque at the sprocket? Remember that torque = force times radius.
less bcz torque =force*radius and in this case sprocket radius is less than that of wheels
 
Aashish sarode said:
will you please elaborate your question?
The sprocket torque minus the tire torque is equal to the wheel moment of inertia times the angular acceleration of the wheel. If the bike is not accelerating, then the sprocket torque is equal to the wheel torque. (I assume that by sprocket torque, you are referring to the torque applied by the chain to the sprocket).
 
Last edited:
Exactly. The farther you get from the center of rotation the less the torque. So the torque at the sprocket is not the same as the torque at the tire.
 
OldYat47 said:
Exactly. The farther you get from the center of rotation the less the torque. So the torque at the sprocket is not the same as the torque at the tire.
If the car isn't accelerating, it sure is the same. The moments (torques) must balance. Just take the wheel and attached sprocket as a free body.
 
[tex]T_{tire} = T_{sprocket} - I\alpha[/tex]
Where [itex]I[/itex] is the inertia of the sprocket-axle-wheel-tire assembly and [itex]\alpha[/itex] is the rotational acceleration of the assembly.

If there is no acceleration ([itex]\alpha = 0[/itex]), then the tire torque is exactly the same as the sprocket torque. Otherwise, in typical assembly, the inertia should be small enough to consider that they are both practically the same as well (although, not necessarily a negligible difference).
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Chestermiller
  • #11
OldYat47 said:
Exactly. The farther you get from the center of rotation the less the torque. So the torque at the sprocket is not the same as the torque at the tire.
The torque is absolutely the same. The force, however, is not, since as you pointed out earlier, torque is force multiplied by radius.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Chestermiller
  • #12
Chestermiller said:
The sprocket torque minus the tire torque is equal to the wheel not accelerating, then the sprocket torque is equal to the wheel torque. (I assume that by sprocket torque, you are referring to the torque applied by the chain to the sprocket).
power=torque*angular velocity , since p
Aashish sarode said:
less bcz torque =force*
cjl said:
The torque is absolutely the same. The force, however, is not, since as you pointed out earlier, torque is force multiplied by radius.
hmm ,power remains constant i.e power =torque *angular velocity ,angular velocity for sprocket and wheel is same so torque nust be equal. Thank u all.
 
  • #13
Aashish sarode said:
hmm ,power remains constant i.e power =torque *angular velocity ,angular velocity for sprocket and wheel is same so torque nust be equal. Thank u all.

That is not always true, there can be losses between the sprocket and the wheel; friction at a bearing, losses through a CV joint, a dragging brake pad etc etc. Power still remains constant but not all of it makes it to the wheel:
Psprocket ≠ PWheel

Psprocket = PWheel + Pbearing losses PCV losses + Pany other losses

Whether these losses are small enough to be ignored depends on your system.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Aashish sarode

Similar threads

  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
1K
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
6K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
5K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K