A
gear or
cogwheel is a
rotating machine part having cut
teeth, or
cogs, which mesh with another toothed part to transmit
torque, in most cases with teeth on the one gear being of identical shape, and often also with that shape on the other gear. Two or more gears working in a sequence (train) are called a
gear train or, in many cases, a
transmission; such gear arrangements can produce a
mechanical advantage through a
gear ratio and thus may be considered a
simple machine. Geared devices can change the speed, torque, and direction of a
power source. The most common situation is for a gear to mesh with another gear; however, a gear can also mesh with a linear toothed part, called a rack, thereby producing
translation instead of rotation.
