icon-background-square
New
New
Year 11

Gears

I can describe the function of gears using specific examples.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 11

Gears

I can describe the function of gears using specific examples.

warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Gears transmit rotary motion.
  2. A rack and pinion can transfer rotary motion to linear.

Keywords

  • Gear - a toothed wheel that normally connects to another gear

  • Driver gear - provides the input movement

  • Driven gear - provides the output movement

  • Gear ratio - shows how one gear's speed or force affects another's

  • Rack and pinion - uses a gear to change rotary motion to linear motion on a rack

Common misconception

Increasing the size of the driven gear, increases the output speed.

Decreasing the size of the driven gear (or increasing the size of driver gear), increases the speed of the driven gear.


To help you plan your year 11 design and technology lesson on: Gears , download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Would be lovely to build your own/student examples out of scrap materials or toy bricks. Look around your classroom. What do you have in your workshop that could be examples of gears? A hand drill or a rolling mill from your workshop are great examples that you may have.
speech-bubble
Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

content-guidance

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision required

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the description to the type of motion:
Correct Answer:rotary,motion in a circle
tick

motion in a circle

Correct Answer:linear,motion one way in a straight line
tick

motion one way in a straight line

Correct Answer:reciprocating,motion backwards and forwards in a straight line
tick

motion backwards and forwards in a straight line

Correct Answer:oscillating ,motion in an arc
tick

motion in an arc

Q2.
Imagine both spanners are moving at the same speed. Which statements are correct about the larger spanner on the right?
An image in a quiz
It completes a full turn more quickly than the smaller spanner.
Correct answer: It completes a full turn more slowly than the smaller spanner.
Correct answer: It has further to travel than the smaller spanner to complete a full turn.
It has less distance to travel than the smaller spanner to complete a full turn.
Q3.
What do you use on a bike to support your speed on different terrains?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: gears
pedals
wheels
Q4.
Match the statements to the description:
Correct Answer:driver pulley wheel,provides the input motion
tick

provides the input motion

Correct Answer:driven pulley wheel,provides the output motion
tick

provides the output motion

Correct Answer:belt,transfers the motion
tick

transfers the motion

Q5.
Decreasing the size of the driven pulley wheel (right) in comparison to the driver pulley wheel (left) has what effect on the output:
An image in a quiz
decreases the speed
Correct answer: increases the speed
makes no difference
Q6.
What is friction?
A force that helps objects move faster.
Correct answer: A resistance encountered when two surfaces rub together.
A material used to reduce wear on surfaces.
A type of energy that powers machines.

6 Questions

Q1.
Which statements are true about a gear?
Correct answer: It is a toothed wheel.
Correct answer: It normally connects to another gear.
Correct answer: It rotates to move.
It has a belt.
It is a grooved wheel.
Q2.
Imagine the large gear on the left is the driver gear. What is another name for the small gear in the middle?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: Idler gear, Idler
Q3.
A canal lock is an example of a rack and pinion mechanism. It uses a gear to change rotary motion to motion on a rack.
Correct Answer: linear, reciprocating , motion in a straight line
Q4.
Which statement is correct? Driver gear (left), driven gear (right).
An image in a quiz
Increasing the size of the driven gear, increases the output speed.
Correct answer: Decreasing the size of the driven gear, increases the output speed.
Correct answer: Increasing the size of driver gear, increases the output speed.
Decreasing the size of driver gear, increases the output speed.
Q5.
Bevel gears transmit rotary motion through __________ degrees.
45
180
Correct answer: 90
Q6.
Match the type of gear to the example.
Correct Answer:rack and pinion,opening and closing a canal lock
tick

opening and closing a canal lock

Correct Answer:bevel gear,manual hand drill
tick

manual hand drill

Correct Answer:chain and sprocket ,bike gears
tick

bike gears

Correct Answer:rack and pinion,raising the heavy table on a pillar drill
tick

raising the heavy table on a pillar drill

Correct Answer:bevel gear,hand held manual food mixer
tick

hand held manual food mixer