AWorldofWedges

Whereelsebesidesthekitchencanyoufindwedges?Let’sgoonawedgehuntandfind out.


Checkoutmostanygarageortoolbox.Nailsarewedges.So arethumbtacksandpushpins.Afterthesewedgesaredrivenintoamaterial,suchaswoodorcork,frictionholdsthem inplace.That’shownailsholdpiecesofwoodtogether.It’salsohowyoursciencereportstayspinnedtothebulletin board.

Lotsofgardentoolsaremadeofwedges.Theseincludethebladesofshovels,hoes,andweedingtoolsprettymuchanythingdesignedto dig.


Snowplowsarewedgesthatscrapesnowoffroads.Theshapeofthewedgeallowstheplow toreachbeneaththesnowandlift itoffthe road.

Whenyoupulldownonazippertab,asmallwedgeinsidethesliderpushestheteeth apart.

Somewedgesareeasytosee.Youcanseehowasculptorusesachiseltobreakoffbitsofrockwhilecreatingastatue.Butsometoolshavewedgeshiddeninsidethem.Oneofthesetoolsissomethingyouprobablyuseevery day.It’sonpants,jackets,andbookbags.Canyouguesswhatitis?It’s a zipper!


Closingazipperiseasy,thankstowedges.Whenyoupulluponthezipper,smallwedgesinsidethesliderpushtheteeth,together.Whenyoupulldown,anotherwedgeseparatestheteeth,likeatinyaxesplitting wood.

WedgesontheMove

Sofar,mostofthewedgesyouhavereadaboutcutthroughsolidmatter,likewood,soil,andfood.Butliquidsandgasesarematter,too.Dowedgescutthroughthismatter?Sure,justlookatthefrontofaboat.Thewedgeshapeofthebowletstheboatslicethroughthewaterwith ease.


Nowconsiderthenarrowfrontofcars,planes,andtrains.Thewedgeshapemakesiteasierforthesevehiclestopushawayalltheairparticlesastheymove.Thentheycangofasteranduseless fuel.


Wedgesareagreatidea,butallwe’redoingisfollowingnature’slead.Thinkofthesleekshapeofdolphinsandsharks.Theirwedge shapegivesthemthespeedtheyneedtocatch prey.

BackattheCampsite

Nowthatyouknowsomethingaboutwedges,thinkaboutsomewaysyoumightusethissimplemachineonacampingtrip.Hint:Whatwouldyouusetoroast marshmallows?