Axle

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/axle

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary engineering role?To transmit torque and support static and dynamic loads in rotational systems
2. What is an axle and why is it important for wheels?An axle is a rod that lets wheels spin. It supports the vehicle’s weight and helps move the vehicle by transmitting power to the wheels.
3. How did axles change from the old wooden ones to the ones we use today?Early axles were simple wooden pegs. Over time they were made from iron and then high‑strength steel alloys, and now they are precision‑engineered for safety and performance.

Torsional Stress: The stress induced in an object when it is twisted or subjected to a torque.
Bending Stress: The stress experienced by a material when it is subjected to a bending force.
Constant Velocity (CV) Joint: A mechanical joint that allows torque to be transmitted through a variable angle, commonly used in FWD axles.