A sprocket is a wheel with teeth that engage a chain, commonly used in manufacturing and bicycles. Pedaling turns the first sprocket, which spins the second and moves the bike forward. Sprockets can be made of metal, plastic, or wood and differ from gears and pulleys.
A sprocket is a wheel or disc, usually thin, that contains a set of teeth around its outer perimeter. These teeth are created to engage the links of a chain. Turning the wheel moves the chain forward, usually by activating another sprocket or some other type of mechanism. Such wheels are used frequently in manufacturing, but are also found in common consumer items, especially bicycles.
Most bicycles have two of these wheels. One sprocket is attached to the front wheel of the bike, while the other is attached to the rear wheel, with a chain connecting the two wheels. The links of the chain are made to engage the teeth of both wheels so that when one turns, the other turns too. The pedals are connected to one of the wheels.
When the cyclist turns the pedals, he turns the first sprocket. This causes two things to happen: first, it spins the front wheel of the bicycle; second, it advances the chain, which spins the second sprocket. This, in turn, spins the rear wheel of the bicycle.
Both wheels of the bicycle spin simultaneously, allowing the bicycle to move forward. The cyclist repeats the rotational movement of the pedals, which repeats the cycle of the chain and sprocket. This keeps the bike going. Pedaling faster makes the bike go faster.
If the chain disengages with the teeth of one of the sprockets, the whole mechanism stops working. While the pedals will continue to turn one wheel, the other will stop and the bike will not move forward. The slipped chain must be re-engaged with the teeth of both wheels before the bicycle can be used properly again.
This same mechanism is used in many manufacturing processes, and sprockets are found in many types of machinery. Some machines use a bicycle-like two-wheel system, but three-wheel systems are also common. The point is to allow two or more points to rotate at the same time when one point is rotated. Connecting different sized sprockets can affect how a machine operates and how fast it runs.
Sprockets are most often made of metal, but can also be made of plastic or wood. They differ from gears, which look similar but are made to mesh with each other rather than a chain or belt. They also differ from pulleys, which can perform similar functions but are smooth rather than having teeth.
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