Gearbox version 1

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People often talk about a 10:1 total gear ratio, implying that humans are incredibly powerful compared to machines. While this may be true in some sense, let's take a closer look at what this really means. The human body is capable of producing a lot of force relative to its size, but it also has limitations when it comes to speed and endurance. In many cases, the gear ratio refers to the way humans use their muscles to generate power. For example, when sprinting, the human leg can produce forces of up to 10 times the weight of the body, which is an impressive feat. However, this also means that humans are limited in how fast they can run before exhaustion sets in. When it comes to machines, a 10:1 total gear ratio would mean that for every one unit of energy input, the machine produces ten units of output power. This is because the gears in a machine can amplify the force generated by the motor or engine, allowing it to produce more power than it would be able to on its own. In this sense, machines are actually quite efficient and can perform tasks that would be impossible for humans alone.