Wedges

A variety of ways to demonstrate the wedge, including hammering nails, using an axe and dragging different shaped blocks through rice

The following wedge activities are demonstrated:

• Hammering a nail
• The axe
• Dragging different shaped blocks through rice

Simple Machines: The Wedge - funsciencedemos:

• Test wedges made of different materials (metal, wood, plastic).
• Compare how a sharp knife and a dull knife perform when cutting.
• Use a wedge to lift a heavy object slightly, like sliding a doorstop under a book or block.

• Use caution when handling sharp wedges like knives or chisels.
• Ensure cutting demonstrations are supervised.
• Do not apply excessive force that could cause tools to slip.

• Why does a sharper wedge cut more easily than a blunt wedge? (Because the force is spread over a smaller surface area, increasing pressure.)
• How does a wedge change the direction of the applied force? (It converts a forward or downward force into a sideways force.)
• In what ways are wedges similar to inclined planes? (They both use sloped surfaces, but the wedge moves through the object, while an inclined plane moves objects upward.)