Wheel

A wheel is a rotating component intended to turn on an axle bearing. The wheel is one of the key components of the wheel and axle, which is one of the six simple machines. Wheels, in conjunction with axles, allow heavy objects to be moved easily, facilitating transportation, supporting loads, and performing work in machines.

Wheels are also used for other purposes, such as a ship's wheel, steering wheel, potter's wheel, and flywheel.

Back to How Gears, Wheels & Axles Work →

Source: Wikipedia · Image: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

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How things move — simple machines, mechanics, and hands-on STEM.

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Museum entries, images, and facts are drawn from Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons, used under public-domain and Creative Commons licenses.