Introduction
Pulleys and sprockets achieve the same tasks as gears by transferring power through rotary motion. Depending on how pulleys and sprockets are applied, speed, direction, and torque can be modified within the system. Pulleys and sprockets are both used in everyday machines ranging from industrial applications to moving printer heads within a desktop printer. Typically, belts and pulleys are easier to manufacture, lighter weight, and less expensive to purchase than sprockets and chains. Although chains and sprockets are more difficult to manufacture and often noisier, they have the advantage of not slipping as easily and tend to be more durable then a belt and pulley system.
Procedure
In this activity you will learn about belt and pulley systems and sprocket and chain systems. You will calculate ratios of examples of both systems in a lab environment.
Conclusion
1. Automotive engineers design many car engines with timing belts. The timing belts provide vital function to the engine in order to maintain the combustion cycle. What is the specific purpose of a timing belt? Is a timing belt more like a belt and pulley system or more like a chain and sprocket system? Defend your answer.
Timing belts provides less slipping and synchronizes with combustion cycle of a car engine. A timing belt is more like a chain and sprocket system except
reversed. The teeth are on the chain and the sprockets catch them.
2. Based on what you know about wheel and axle simple machines, how might you manipulate the size of the axle powering the input pulley or sprocket to harness more speed from the output?
More speed can be harnessed from the output by lessening the size (diameter?) of the axle powering the input.
3. When you are climbing a hill on a bike with different speeds, why does it seem like you are pedaling a lot to cover a short distance? What happens if you switch to a higher gear in hopes of not having to pedal as much?
When on a bike with different speeds climbing a hill, pedaling more is a result of the chain switching onto a larger gear. The bigger the gear, the lesser force
required to turn it but a greater amount of rotations required to cover a distance. A higher gear will require greater force application but not as many pedal.
Pulleys and sprockets achieve the same tasks as gears by transferring power through rotary motion. Depending on how pulleys and sprockets are applied, speed, direction, and torque can be modified within the system. Pulleys and sprockets are both used in everyday machines ranging from industrial applications to moving printer heads within a desktop printer. Typically, belts and pulleys are easier to manufacture, lighter weight, and less expensive to purchase than sprockets and chains. Although chains and sprockets are more difficult to manufacture and often noisier, they have the advantage of not slipping as easily and tend to be more durable then a belt and pulley system.
Procedure
In this activity you will learn about belt and pulley systems and sprocket and chain systems. You will calculate ratios of examples of both systems in a lab environment.
Conclusion
1. Automotive engineers design many car engines with timing belts. The timing belts provide vital function to the engine in order to maintain the combustion cycle. What is the specific purpose of a timing belt? Is a timing belt more like a belt and pulley system or more like a chain and sprocket system? Defend your answer.
Timing belts provides less slipping and synchronizes with combustion cycle of a car engine. A timing belt is more like a chain and sprocket system except
reversed. The teeth are on the chain and the sprockets catch them.
2. Based on what you know about wheel and axle simple machines, how might you manipulate the size of the axle powering the input pulley or sprocket to harness more speed from the output?
More speed can be harnessed from the output by lessening the size (diameter?) of the axle powering the input.
3. When you are climbing a hill on a bike with different speeds, why does it seem like you are pedaling a lot to cover a short distance? What happens if you switch to a higher gear in hopes of not having to pedal as much?
When on a bike with different speeds climbing a hill, pedaling more is a result of the chain switching onto a larger gear. The bigger the gear, the lesser force
required to turn it but a greater amount of rotations required to cover a distance. A higher gear will require greater force application but not as many pedal.