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[Don Bowen <don.bowen AT earthlink.net>]

As for gearing up or down, consider a simple example.  Consider a lever 
3 feet long with the fulcrum at the one foot point.  This gives a 2:1 
ratio.  My 250# on the long end would be able to balance 500# on the 
short end.  To gear it up, swap ends.  Now my 250# would be balanced by 
125#.  Simple mechanics.

Gearing works the same way.  Ignoring friction (you can't but it makes 
explanations easier) a gear of 4 inches diameter and a gear ot 2 inches 
is the same 2:1 ratio.  Spinning the smaller gear at 100 revolutions 
spins the larger gear 50 revolutions.  Spin the larger 100 and the 
smaller goes 200.  Simple mechanics.

If you put a 100# resistance on the smaller gear and spin it with the 
larger gear, the larger gear will see a 200# resistance, place a 100# 
resistance on the larger gear and the smaller gear sees a 50# resistance. 

We live is a technologically complex world but many do not understand 
simple mechanics.

--
Don Bowen           KI6DIU
http://www.braingarage.com/Dons/Travels/journal/Journal.html