How does a clutch work and why do we need it to change gears smoothly?
In: Engineering
A clutch is the intermediate between the engine’s output and the transmission’s input. It’s essentially a hjgh-friction surface that mates to both components, and transmits rotational force.
When you shift gears, the engine needs to be momentarily disconnected from the transmission by pushing the clutch because their speeds will become desynchronized as the transmission shifts into a new gear. When the clutch is released, the friction surfaces “grab” onto the transmission input and the two resynchronize back to normal driving speed.
Without a clutch, shifting would have to happen with the engine spinning at exactly the right RPM for the desired gear before shifting- this is known as [floating gears](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Float_shifting).
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