Maximum Allowable Torque

When participating in a competitive sport, there is a strong desire to maximize the physical output of your body. Whether it is running faster or leaping higher, we all strive to push the boundaries of how we were designed. Sometimes these activities result in spectacular imagery, such as when we leap high into the air and catch a football in the end zone, scoring the game winning touchdown. Other times, they result in spectacular failure, such as when we land from that amazing catch and our femur cracks under the pressure. Engineers typically push the physical limits of gearing in a similar way to what athletes do to their bodies.