Science Secrets · Drawing 34 of 40
Gears Help My Bicycle Climb
Everyday Inventions
Gears change how many times the back wheel turns each time you pedal. A low gear can make going uphill easier. But you must turn the pedals more times to go the same distance.
Did you know?
The chain transfers motion between the toothed wheels.
Look together
Which route does the chain follow on the bicycle?
An idea to try
With an adult, find the chain and toothed wheels on a parked bicycle. Compare the sizes of some sprockets without touching the mechanism.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
The ratio depends partly on the tooth counts of the engaged parts. Gears trade effort against distance per pedal turn; they do not supply extra energy.
Sources and illustration notes (1)
Simplified scene and shapes. Models, imagined comparisons and enlargements do not preserve all real measurements.
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. References identify the institution and the related lesson; some linked pages are in French.
- Exploratorium: Science of Cycling — Drives & GearsThe chain links the front chainring to a rear cog. For steep hills, riders choose a gear that turns the pedals many times to turn the wheel once; on flats, a gear that turns the wheel many times for each turn of the pedals.
Page prepared on October 12, 2026. Illustrations are simplified for colouring.
This drawing is from the book Science Secrets to Colour
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