What does the gear ratio formula specifically measure?

The gear ratio formula specifically measures the number of driven teeth compared to the driver teeth. This ratio is crucial because it determines how the motion and power are transferred between connected gears in a mechanical system. A higher gear ratio indicates that for every complete turn of the driver gear, the driven gear turns fewer times. This relationship affects both the torque and speed of the system, allowing designers to understand how much force and speed will be transferred through the gears.

Understanding the gear ratio is essential in various applications, such as in vehicles and machinery, to achieve the desired performance characteristics – whether that is increasing torque for climbing or maximizing speed for flat distance.

The other options do not accurately reflect what the gear ratio formula measures. The distance moved by the driver gear pertains to linear displacement, which is unrelated to the gear ratio. The total number of teeth on all gears could provide insights into the overall design but does not directly relate to the gear ratio. The input speed of the driving gear is important for understanding how the system operates but does not describe the specific measurement that the gear ratio formula represents.