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Leaving Cert Technology: Gears, pulleys, cams & drives

How often Gears, pulleys, cams & drives comes up on the Technology papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 9 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

OL Asked on 9 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Gears, pulleys, cams & drives, Higher Level(9 marks)

Quick ones on Gears, pulleys, cams & drives.

(a)A 15-tooth driver at 900 rpm meshes with a 45-tooth driven gear. What is the output speed?
  1. 2700 rpm
  2. 300 rpm
  3. 60 rpm
(b)Why is a worm and wheel used in a winch?
  1. It keeps input and output speeds equal
  2. It turns rotary into linear motion
  3. Large speed reduction and it will not run back
(c)On a cam's displacement diagram, what is dwell?
  1. The follower stays still while the cam turns
  2. The follower drops suddenly off a step
  3. The follower rises at its fastest rate
Show the answers

(a) 300 rpm

(b) Large speed reduction and it will not run back

(c) The follower stays still while the cam turns

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Gears, pulleys, cams & drives.

Higher Level

Asked on 9 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025A13, B3b
2024A7, B2c
2023A6, A10, A13
2022A6, B2b
2021A10, A11, A12, B2c
2019A4, A8, A11, A13, B2b, B3d
2018A7, A11, A14, B3b
2017A2, A12, B2b
2016A9, B3c

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Gears, pulleys, cams & drives questions

Gears, pulleys, cams & drives, 3 marks

What does an idler gear placed between a driver and a driven gear do?

  1. Changes the overall gear ratio by its own tooth count
  2. Turns the drive through 90° to a new shaft
  3. Makes the driven gear turn the same way as the driver
Show the answer

Makes the driven gear turn the same way as the driver

The idler reverses the direction once more, so driver and driven turn the same way. Its own tooth count cancels out, so the overall ratio is unchanged.

Gears, pulleys, cams & drives, 2 marks

A cam converts rotary motion into:

  1. Rotary motion in the opposite direction
  2. Reciprocating motion of a follower
  3. Faster rotary motion
Show the answer

Reciprocating motion of a follower

As the cam turns, its profile pushes the follower up and down (or side to side). Pear, eccentric, snail and heart shapes give different follower motions.

Gears, pulleys, cams & drives, 3 marks

Gearing a motor down to a slower output speed has what effect on output torque?

  1. It increases the torque
  2. It decreases the torque
  3. It has no effect on torque
Show the answer

It increases the torque

Ignoring losses, the power stays the same, so a lower speed means a higher torque. That is why a cordless screwdriver gears down its small, fast motor.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 9 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025A11
2024A8, B2b
2023A6
2022A6
2021A5
2019A6
2018A11
2017A6, B3c
2016A9, B3b

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Gears, pulleys, cams & drives questions

Gears, pulleys, cams & drives, 3 marks

A 20-tooth driver gear turning at 300 rpm drives a 60-tooth gear. What is the speed of the driven gear?

  1. 900 rpm
  2. 50 rpm
  3. 100 rpm
Show the answer

100 rpm

Output speed = input speed × driver teeth ÷ driven teeth = 300 × 20 ÷ 60 = 100 rpm. A bigger driven gear turns more slowly but with more torque.

Gears, pulleys, cams & drives, 2 marks

Two spur gears mesh and the driver turns clockwise. Which way does the driven gear turn?

  1. It does not turn at all
  2. Anticlockwise
  3. Clockwise
Show the answer

Anticlockwise

Meshing spur gears always turn in opposite directions. Placing an idler gear between them makes the driver and driven gear turn the same way.

Gears, pulleys, cams & drives, 3 marks

Why does a bicycle use a chain and sprockets rather than a belt and pulleys?

  1. The chain cannot slip under heavy load
  2. The chain never needs lubrication
  3. The chain is quieter than a belt
Show the answer

The chain cannot slip under heavy load

Chain links mesh with sprocket teeth, so the drive is positive and cannot slip. Chains do need oil and adjustment, and they are noisier than belts.

Other Technology topics

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