What is the relationship between a prime mover and a reduction gear?

The correct understanding of the relationship between a prime mover and a reduction gear is that a prime mover generates power, which is typically high-speed and low torque. In this context, the prime mover refers to engines, turbines, or motors that provide the initial mechanical energy. The role of the reduction gear is to convert the high-speed output of the prime mover to a lower speed with increased torque for practical applications, such as driving a propeller in a ship.

The characteristic nature of a prime mover, being high-speed and low torque, is essential for efficient operation, as it can generate significant power but often requires modification through reduction gears to meet the operational demands of various machinery and mechanical systems. Thus, recognizing this speed-to-torque conversion is fundamental to understanding how mechanical systems utilize prime movers in conjunction with reduction gears to achieve desired performance metrics.