What is a differential in a car?

Question

Can someone plz briefly tell me basically what it is and what it does? Thanks!

Answer 1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differential_(mechanics)

Answer 2

A car differential doesn't really have anything to do with math. It's not like a differential in calculus.

But anyway, a car differential allows power to be transmitted from the engine to the wheels while the wheels are spinning at different speeds. The key is the wheels spin at different rates, hence the name "differential." When a car makes turn, the wheels on the inside of the turn travel a shorter distance, and therefore spin at a lower rate, than the wheels on the outside of the turn.

Without a differential, the wheels would have to be locked together with one axle, and be forced to spin at the same rates, greatly increasing the difficulty of making a turn.

Answer 3

It allows the inner and outer wheel to spin at different rates when you are turning. Suppose you are turning at a constant angular rate. then the velocity of the inner tire is w*r1 (if r1 is the distance from the center of the turn to the center of the inner most wheel of your car) and the velocity of the outer tire is w*r2 (r2 being the distance from the center to the outer wheel. Now it is obvious that r2>r1 because your tires are separated by a few feet. That means that v2>v1, so the differential allows this condition to occur so that your wheels do not slip while you are turning.

Answer 4

A gear box that has special provision to allow the rear wheels rotate at different speeds while going around a curve.

Answer 5

It takes the rotation of the engine and transfers it to the wheels. That is about as easy as I can put it.

Answer 6

I've been driving for 5 years and I don't even know what an "accelerator" is. Can someone please explain?