If the gear reduction factor is greater than 1, what happens to speed and torque?

• A. Speed decreases; torque increases
• B. Speed increases; torque decreases
• C. Speed decreases; torque decreases
• D. Speed increases; torque increases

Answer: (A)

When the gear reduction factor is greater than 1, the system is reducing speed while increasing torque. The gear ratio tells how many input rotations are needed for one output rotation. A ratio above 1 means the output turns more slowly than the input. Because power (roughly input power equals output power minus losses) is preserved, a slower output speed must be accompanied by a higher output torque. In simple terms, speed at the output becomes input speed divided by the ratio, and torque at the output becomes input torque multiplied by the ratio (adjusted for efficiency). So the correct outcome is slower speed and higher torque.