What is Wedge: Definition and 278 Discussions

A wedge is a triangular shaped tool, and is a portable inclined plane, and one of the six simple machines. It can be used to separate two objects or portions of an object, lift up an object, or hold an object in place. It functions by converting a force applied to its blunt end into forces perpendicular (normal) to its inclined surfaces. The mechanical advantage of a wedge is given by the ratio of the length of its slope to its width. Although a short wedge with a wide angle may do a job faster, it requires more force than a long wedge with a narrow angle.
The force is applied on a flat, broad surface. This energy is transported to the pointy, sharp end of the wedge, hence the force is transported.
The wedge simply transports energy and collects it to the pointy end, consequently breaking the item. In this way, much pressure is put on a thin area.

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  1. A

    Classic mechanics problem:two masses with a wedge

    Homework Statement Given that two masses are connected by a light string over a pulley.They are initial at rest.Suppose all the surfaces are smooth.Find the resultant acceleration of the system Homework Equations F=ma Fpseudo=-ma The Attempt at a Solution Suppose I let the resultant a be A,and...
  2. Satvik Pandey

    Block on wedge which is not fixed.Find minimum μ to keep the wedge at rest.

    Homework Statement Consider a wedge of mass m whose upper surface is a quarter circle and is smooth. The lower part is rough. A small block of same mass is kept at the topmost position and the initial position is shown in figure. The block slides down the wedge. Find the minimum value of...
  3. M

    Finding 12.7mm and 13mm dia wedge prisms

    Hello, Can anyone give me a heads up for a lens manufacturer that sells 12.7mm or 13mm dia wedge prisms? It seems all my sources only have 25.4mm. Thanks in advance, Mike
  4. S

    Inteferenxce pattern of air wedge

    Homework Statement please refer to the question, since at the positon Q , the lighr ray is blocked by the substance , (as in the diagram) , why the bright fringe is seen at Q , In my opinion , it it should be a dark fringe. whereas at P , the lighr ray is not blocked , so it should be bright...
  5. D

    Optical path difference of air wedge

    Homework Statement i can't understand why the optical path diffrence is 2nt+0.5λ. why is it so? the 0.5λ is due to the path difference change of 180 degree of when it is reflected lower ray when it is reflected from the lower glass surface... why there's also phase change of 2nt. since both...
  6. Satvik Pandey

    Finding Work Done by Friction on a Sliding Block Against a Wedge

    Homework Statement Consider a fixed wedge, whose part is a quarter circle of radius as shown. A small block of mass 'm' slides down the wedge and leaves horizontally from a height 'h' as shown.The coefficient of friction between wedge and block is 'μ_{k}' . Compute the value of in centimetres...
  7. T

    Finding the Speed of a Wedge and Rod System

    Homework Statement A thin rod of mass m = 1 kg and length l=1m is placed along the hypotenuse side of a wedge lying on a frictionless floor having mass M =5kg and angle 60° . At t= 0 the system is released from rest. Both the objects are free to move .Find the speed of the wedge when the rod...
  8. K

    Material point and curve wedge

    Homework Statement I think that the image is clear. There isn't friction, not the material point with wedge, not the wedge with the floor. At time t=0 the material point start to move, I need to find the final speed of the two objects at time t\rightarrow\infty. Homework Equations...
  9. Radarithm

    Find Block's Acceleration w/ 45 Degree Wedge & Constant A

    Homework Statement A 45 degree wedge is pushed along a table with constant acceleration A. A block of mass m slides without friction on the wedge. Find the block's acceleration. Gravity is directed down. Homework Equations Constraint Equation...
  10. jbunniii

    Kleppner - Block on wedge with friction

    Homework Statement This is problem 2.17 from Kleppner and Kolenkow, 2nd edition. It is the first problem involving friction, and I want to check my reasoning. A block rests on a wedge on a horizontal surface. The coefficient of friction of the block on the wedge is ##\mu##. Gravity is directed...
  11. jbunniii

    Block sliding on accelerating wedge

    Homework Statement This is problem 2.11 from Kleppner and Kolenkow, 2nd edition. I have completed the problem but I'm not 100% sure I did it right and would like to check my understanding. A ##45## degree wedge is pushed along a table with constant acceleration ##A##. A block of mass ##m##...
  12. U

    Find the displacement of wedge

    Homework Statement Find the displacement of wedge when the smaller block reaches the bottom of wedge. Homework Equations See attached diagram. The Attempt at a Solution For the smaller block, N = mg \cos \theta \\ mg \sin \theta = m v \dfrac{dv}{dx} For wedge N \sin...
  13. W

    Program Computing Wedge of Differential Forms?

    Hi, All: Just curious if anyone knows of any online or otherwise software to help compute the wedge of forms, or maybe some method to help simplify. Not about laziness; I don't have that much experience, and I want to double check; I have around 30 terms ( many of which may cancel out) , and...
  14. Saitama

    Cylinder rolling down a wedge - wedge should not slip

    Homework Statement The height of the slope shown in the figure is 30 cm, and its base is 40 cm. A solid cylinder of uniform density, which has the same mass as the slope, rolls down along the slope without slipping. What is the least value of the coefficient of friction between the inclined...
  15. C

    Problem on a moving wedge and acceleration

    Homework Statement We have a wedge and at the top of it a block(consider it dimensionless)and the whole system initially is at rest.Given the gravitational acceleration g, the angle φ of the inclined plane,the mass m of the block,the mass M of the wedge,the coefficient of friction fs between...
  16. Rococo

    How Does Horizontal Acceleration Keep a Block Stationary on a Wedge?

    Homework Statement A wedge of mass M rests on a horizontal table. A block of mass m rests on the wedge. http://imgur.com/cS02MvM (a) What horizontal acceleration, a, must M have relative to the table to keep the block stationary relative to the wedge, assuming no friction? (b) What...
  17. A

    How Much Force is Needed to Raise a Block on a Frictional Wedge?

    Homework Statement...
  18. M

    What Forces Determine the Sliding of a Block on a Wedge?

    Homework Statement A block of mass 0.80 kg rests on the inclined surface of a wedge of mass 2.0 kg. The wedge is acted on by a horizontal force F and slides on a frictionless surface. If the coefficient of static friction between the wedge and the block is µs = 0.40, and the angle of the...
  19. M

    Understanding the Wedge Symbol in an Equation

    Hi guys, Would you please help me by telling me the meaning of the wedge symbol in the equation attached? I=inertia. ω=angular velocity. Since the inertia is constant, then why do we need to add the second term? I mean why isn't the differentiation of (Iω) simply equal to (Iω')?
  20. H

    Solving Motion of Block A on Wedge B

    Homework Statement A block A of mass m is placed over a wedge B of same mass m. Assuming all surface to be smooth. The displacement of block A is 1 sec if the system is released from rest is : Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution i have made fbds and have the relations-...
  21. Saitama

    Acceleration of a Block Sliding on a Wedge

    Homework Statement A 45 degree wedge is pushed along a table with constant acceleration A. A block of mass m slides without friction on the wedge. Find its acceleration. (Gravity is directed downwards.) Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution Let the acceleration of block...
  22. A

    What is the Hodge dual and how does it work?

    Hi, I'm trying to get my head around the Hodge dual and how it exactly works. In the book "Gauge Fields, Knots and Gravity" by John Baez and Javier P. Muniain they define: \begin{equation} \omega \wedge * \mu = \langle \omega , \mu \rangle \mathrm{vol} \end{equation} for two p-forms...
  23. P

    Solving a Stationary Block on a Frictionless Wedge

    Homework Statement This is a 2 part question. A block of mass m rests on a frictionless wedge that has an inclination of theta and mass M. a) Find the acceleration of the wedge M to the right such that the block m remains stationary relative to the wedge. c) You now find out that a force...
  24. E

    Calculating the Resistance of a Wedge

    I'm interested in calculating the resistance of an object using the formula: R=ρ (L/(T*W)) where L is the length and T*W is the cross sectional area. My object is however, a wedge, so I do not know exactly how to calculate the resistance without doing an integral...
  25. V

    Lagrangian question - rough ball on moving wedge

    Homework Statement (context: I'm studying for a test, and this is a question from a past exam paper.) "A wedge of mass M with angle \phi is free to slide on a frictionless horizontal table. A solid ball of radius a and mass m is placed on the slope of the wedge. The contact between the ball...
  26. andyrk

    Accelerating Wedge and block on top of it -- Dynamics

    Homework Statement In the figure a block of mass 'm' is placed on a wedge of mass M. The wedge is subject to a horizontal force 'F' and slides on a friction less surface. The coefficient of static friction between the block and wedge is μs. Find the range of values of 'F' for which the block...
  27. Mandelbroth

    Is the Wedge Product of Vectors Equal to the Cross Product?

    Consider ##\vec{a}=\begin{bmatrix} a_1 \\ a_2 \\ a_3 \end{bmatrix}## and ##\vec{b}=\begin{bmatrix} b_1 \\ b_2 \\ b_3 \end{bmatrix}##. Is any part of the following NOT true? $$\vec{a}\wedge\vec{b}=\frac{1}{2}(\vec{a}\otimes\vec{b}-\vec{b}\otimes\vec{a}) = \frac{1}{2}\begin{bmatrix} 0 &...
  28. G

    Acceleration of a system with 2 Blocks and a Wedge

    Homework Statement Block B of mass 10 kg is initially at rest as shown on the upper surface of a 20-kg wedge A which is supported by a horizontal surface. A 2-kg block C is connected to block B by a cord which passes over a pulley of negligible mass. Using computational software and denoting...
  29. F

    Block sliding down wedge problem

    Homework Statement Homework Equations Conservation of energy The Attempt at a Solution All I'm thinking for this problem is to just use conservation of energy, since the cube is frictionless and it is just sliding down the wedge, aren't the only forces that are at play is just...
  30. I

    Wedge product and change of variables

    Homework Statement The question is: Let \phi: \mathbb{R}^n\rightarrow\mathbb{R}^n be a C^1 map and let y=\phi(x) be the change of variables. Show that dy_1\wedge...\wedge dy_n=(detD\phi(x))\cdotdx_1\wedge...\wedgedx_n. Homework Equations n/a The Attempt at a Solution Take a look at here and...
  31. I

    MHB Wedge product and change of variables

    The question is: Let $\phi：\mathbb{R}^n\rightarrow\mathbb{R}^n$ be a $C^1$ map and let $y=\phi(x)$ be the change of variables. Show that d$y_1\wedge...\wedge $d$y_n$=(detD$\phi(x)$)$\cdot$d$x_1\wedge...\wedge$d$x_n$.Take a look at here and the answer given by Michael Albanese: differential...
  32. I

    Potential Energy of water in a wedge

    Homework Statement A symmetric wedge of depth h and width A is filled to the brim with water of mass m, where acceleraton due to gravity is g. What is the potential energy of the water with respect to the base of the wedge? Homework Equations E = mgh The Attempt at a Solution E =...
  33. M

    Why are wedge shaped beams being used?

    Hi guys. I saw this in one of my Engineering Design slides about embodiment designs and saw these slides using uniform stresses as an example and had a hard time figuring out how is this structure supposed to ensure uniform stress. Shown in here is taken from the slides I was...
  34. D

    Acceleration of block B on top of wedge A on a ramp

    Homework Statement A 12-lb block B rests on the upper surface of a 30-lb wedge A on a 30° ramp. Neglecting friction, determine immediately after the system is released from frest (a) the acceleration of A, (b) the acceleration of B relative to A. Homework Equations ƩFx=mA aA W=mg aB...
  35. L

    The Relation between Cup Product and Wedge Product

    On a smooth triangulation of a manifold differential forms can be viewed as real cochains by integration. The wedge product of two forms gives another real cochain. So does their cup product. - are they cohomologous? - Is there a limiting process that relates them?
  36. G

    Forces Acting on Mass M on Wedge

    Homework Statement We have a body of mass M placed in a kind of sledge like on the picture: Coefficient of fristion between the mass and the sledge is zero, but the coefficient of friction between the wedge and the sledge is μ. Angle of the wedge is α. The sledge is massles. The slegde is...
  37. P

    Definition of the wedge product on the exterior algebra of a vector space

    Hi, I am currently reading about differential forms in "Introduction to Smooth Manifolds" by J. M. Lee, and I was wondering exactly how you define the wedge product on the exterior algebra \Lambda^*(V) = \oplus_{k=0}^n\Lambda^k(V) of a vector space V. I understand how the wedge product is...
  38. T

    Quick easy question block sliding down wedge

    Homework Statement If a block is let go from the top of a wedge elevated at a certain angle and slides down will it reach the bottom at the same time as if the wedge was moving and then we let the block slide? so neglect friction and air resistance and basically just let the block slide down...
  39. P

    Accelerating wedge at angle above the horizontal with friction

    Homework Statement http://imageshack.us/a/img594/4821/fileeq.jpg So, the problem is to find the minimum acceleration required to keep the block on the ramp, when the ramp is being pushed at an angle to the horizontal (so going diagonally) I know that the coefficient of static friction...
  40. P

    Find the acceleration : block slides on a wedge

    sry for typo..it should be acceleration Homework Statement A block m slides down from a frictionless inclined surface (theta = 45) of a wedge, mass m, which is on a horizontal plane with coefficient of friction u. Prove that the wedge moves to the right with acceleration equal to...
  41. O

    Calculating Acceleration in a Wedge-Block System on a Frictionless Table

    A wedge with mass M rests on a frictionless horizontal table top. A block with mass m is placed on the wedge. There is no friction between the block and the wedge. The system is released from rest. Figure http://tinyurl.com/9zcf7uq 1. Calculate the acceleration of the wedge. Express...
  42. M

    Clamping Problem (Wedge & Friction)

    Yikes... I'm having a huge brain-fart and need help with some really embarrassingly basic physics for a real world engineering application. Basically, I'm clamping a drafted part and I'm concerned that the wedging force will pop it out of the fixture. I'm trying to ultimately find F_z, or...
  43. H

    A block with mass on a wedge with mass.

    Homework Statement The surfaces between a 9 kg block, the 15 kg wedge and between the 15 kg wedge and the horizontal plane are smooth (without friction). The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s. A block is released on the inclined plane (top side of the wedge). What is the force F...
  44. J

    Differential forms and wedge products are giving me trouble.

    I'm having problems in my differential geometry class. Does anyone know of a good tutorial or set of notes? The 1-form, 2-form, 3-form stuff is confusing and so is the wedge product. Anyways, here's the problem. After some algebra I arrived at my answer, but I'm unsure of how to incorporate...
  45. U

    Calculating Volume of a Cylindrical Wedge

    Homework Statement The problem is attached in the picture. The Attempt at a Solution What bothers me is that they say the wedge is bounded by x + z = a. Doesn't this imply that the calculated volume should only be half of what is written in the answers? I'm aware that the plane x +...
  46. N

    Acceleration on a Frictionless Wedge

    Homework Statement Two masses m1 and m2 (m1 > m2) are connected over a wedge shaped block. Assuming both inclined planes are frictionless along with frictionless and massless pulley, calculate an expression for the acceleration of the system. Here's what it sort of looks like...
  47. P

    Wedge product in tensor notation

    Is the following the definition of wedge product in tensor notation? Let A \equiv A_i be a matrix one form. Then A \wedge A \wedge A \wedge A \wedge A = \epsilon^{abcde}A_a A_b A_c A_d A_e ? in 5 dimensions. This question is in reference to the winding number of maps.
  48. Demon117

    A box on a moving wedge, on an inclined plane

    Homework Statement The situation is indicated in the diagram below. Block m is at rest, and the block M has an initial velocity upward. Need to find the Lagrangian of this system, and then the Euler-Lagrange equations. The Attempt at a Solution This is the Lagrange that I came up with...
  49. Z

    Inclined Glass Wedge Diffraction - Help

    Homework Statement Monochromatic beam of incident light on the surface of the glass wedge, whose upper edge is inclined at an angle of γ = 0.05 ° from the base. In reflected light observe a number of interference fringes, the distance between adjacent dark streaks is △X = 0.21 mm. Calculate...
  50. R

    Calculating the Volume of a Cylindrical Wedge Using Calculus and Geometry

    Homework Statement Find the volume of the enclosed by the surfaces z=qx z=0 and x²+y²=2ax Homework Equations This is meant to be done with calculus but can verify my answer with simple geometry - should be \pi a^3q The Attempt at a Solution So the top of the wedge will be when x=2a...
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