Cardboard Gear Board
Source: Stemoto Original
Discover the magic of mechanical advantage! Cut out and assemble your own working gear train using cardboard and push pins to see how interlocking teeth transfer motion and change speed.
Categorisation
Props & Materials Required
- •Thick corrugated cardboard
- •Push pins (thumb tacks)
- •A corkboard or a thick piece of foam (for the base)
- •Scissors or a craft knife
- •Markers
- •A printed gear template (optional but helpful)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Cut the Gears
Trace two circles on your cardboard—one large (like a coaster) and one small (like a bottle cap). Cut out 'teeth' around the edges of both circles. (You can also print a gear template and glue it to the cardboard before cutting).
Set the Base
Lay your corkboard or thick foam flat on the table. This is your 'gearbox' base where you will mount the gears.
Mount the Drive Gear
Take your large gear (the 'Drive Gear'). Push a thumb tack exactly through the center hole and pin it into the corkboard. Make sure it can spin freely without wobbling.
Mesh the Teeth
Place the small gear (the 'Driven Gear') right next to the large one so their teeth interlock perfectly. Pin the small gear to the board through its center.
Test the Ratio!
Draw a red dot on the edge of both gears. Turn the large gear exactly ONE full circle. Count how many times the small gear spins in that same time! You just discovered a gear ratio!
Why It Works & Notes
This project introduces mechanical gear ratios. Kids learn that a large gear turning a small gear makes the small one spin much faster (but with less force). They also see firsthand that two interlocking gears always spin in opposite directions!
Very safe, no-solder project. Parents should assist in cutting out the cardboard gears, especially the teeth, as this requires precision and sharp scissors. The teeth must be evenly spaced for the gears to mesh properly!