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Differential (mechanical device)
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{{Short description|Type of simple planetary gear train}} {{Use Oxford spelling|date=July 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}} {{More citations needed|date=July 2015}} {{Multiple image | align = right | direction = vertical | width = 220 | image1 = BAUMA 2004 ZF Differentialgetriebe.jpg | caption1 = Differential unit for a [[rear-wheel drive]] car, built by [[ZF Friedrichshafen|ZF]] {{circa|2004}} | image2 = 20-TallyTakeupDrive.JPG | caption2 = Differential gears (in yellow) in a [[punched tape]] reader, built by [[Tally (company)|Tally]] c. 1962 }} A '''differential''' is a [[gear train]] with three [[drive shaft]]s that has the property that the [[rotational speed]] of one shaft is the average of the speeds of the others. A common use of differentials is in [[motor vehicle]]s, to allow the wheels at each end of a [[drive axle]] to rotate at different speeds while cornering. Other uses include clocks and [[Analog computer|analogue computers]]. Differentials can also provide a gear ratio between the input and output shafts (called the "axle ratio" or "diff ratio"). For example, many differentials in motor vehicles provide a gearing reduction by having fewer teeth on the [[pinion]] than the [[ring gear]].
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