Machines: Wheel and axle

• The wheel and axle operate on a principle similar to that of gears
• A wheel is attached to an axle so that the two parts rotate together while effort/motion is transferred from the other
• The circumference of the axle is much smaller than that of the wheel
• For one turn of the axle the wheel moves a greater distance
• The force on the axle is therefore much larger than on the wheel
• The opposite is true in a winch
• A large wheel turns a small axle
• A small effort can thus be used to lift or drag a large load on the axle

A windlass on a deep well

• Similar contraption is used to draw water from deep wells
• Instead of a large wheel a handle/crank is used as a lever instead of a larger wheel

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