Description
In this kit, learners engage with a range of gears to design and build their own gear trains. By testing various configurations, learners discover how changes in gear ratios affect speed and mechanical advantage. Color-coded gear tooth counts make it easy to identify and compare gear ratios, reinforcing key mechanical concepts. Through this hands-on exploration, students deepen their understanding of how gear systems work and how these principles apply in real-world specialized trades such as automotive, agriculture, and wind turbine technology.
Featured Trade: Automotive Service Technician, Agriculture Equipment Technician, Heavy Equipment Technician, Parts Technician, Wind Turbine Technician
Contributors: Jared Tymburski, Robert Lindhout, Colton Garner, Warren Anderson, Matthew Prete, Kiri Stolz, Roy Mugisha, Jared Leavitt, Joëlle Lavergne
Concepts: Gears, Ratios, Mechanical Advantage, Speed and Force Ratios
Grade(s): 5 – 10
Suggested Curricular Alignments
Grade 5 Math – Number
Grade 8 Science – Mechanical Systems
Grade 8 Math – Number Sense
Science 14 – Understanding energy transfer technologies
