hjulet

Hjulet, or the wheel, is a circular component that rotates around an axle. In Swedish and Norwegian usage, the term hjulet refers to the wheel itself. The wheel is one of the basic simple machines and enables motion with reduced friction and the transmission of power.

Archaeological evidence places the earliest wheels in Mesopotamia around 3500 BCE, initially used for pottery and later adapted to transportation with wagons and chariots. The wheel-and-axle arrangement greatly increased the distance over which goods and people could be moved. Separately, the potter’s wheel enabled the mass production of pottery.

Wheel designs vary by use. Solid wooden wheels are simple but heavy; spoked wheels reduce weight and improve strength. Rims or tires improve traction and wear resistance. In machinery, wheels connect to gears or function as pulleys in belts and drive systems. Bearings and hubs further reduce friction.

Materials have evolved from oak and ash to iron, steel, and composites. The wheel’s geometry, including hub, rim, and spokes, is optimized for load, speed, and terrain. The advent of ball bearings, lubrication, and later tubeless tires further increased efficiency and durability.

Today wheels are a central element of transportation and industry. They enable bicycles, cars, trains, aircraft landing gear, mills, and many machines. The development of pneumatic tires in the 19th century and modern alloy or composite wheels have pushed efficiency, safety, and performance. The wheel remains a foundational technology in engineering and daily life.