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.

View More On Wikipedia.org
Recent contents Top users
  1. K

    Understanding Wedge Products in General Relativity

    I am studying general relativity from Sean Carroll's text and I have a simple question about the wedge product. According to the text, the wedge product of two one-forms (dual vectors) is (A \wedge B)_{\mu\nu} = 2A_{[\mu}B_{\nu]} = A_\mu B_\nu - A_\nu B_\mu I understand the why the first two...
  2. I

    Wedge interference - solving for 'separation of fringes' without lambda

    Homework Statement plane plates of glass are in contact along one side and held apart by a wire 0.05mm in diameter, parallel to the edge in contact and 20cm distant. using filtered green mercury light, directed normally on the air film between plates, interference fringes are seen. calculate...
  3. K

    Finding Acceleration in a Cylinder and Wedge Problem

    A cylinder of mass m, radius a, rolls down a rough wedge of mass M that is free to slide on a smooth horizontal surface. The wedge angle is \Theta. What is the acceleration of the wedge? We are looking at the Lagrangian method in my classical physics class and I just don't know where to...
  4. D

    Recoil of wedge when block slides down

    Homework Statement A block of mass 3.1 kg is initially at rest on a wedge of mass 19 kg, height 0.20 m, and an incline angle of 30° as shown in the figure below. There is no friction between the wedge and the floor. Starting at the top of the incline, the block is released and slides toward...
  5. W

    Calculating Acceleration of Connected Blocks on a Wedge

    Homework Statement http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/8821/phy001.th.jpg angle = 20 coefficient of kinetic friction between block and surface = 0.2 When the whold system released, what is the "acceleration" of blocks. all blocks have equal mass Homework Equations The Attempt at...
  6. W

    Analyzing Acceleration of Wedge and Block System

    Homework Statement A block m slides from frictionless inclined (45 with horizontal (a)) of a wedge mass m which on horizontal plane with coefficient of friction u. Prove the wedge moves to right with acc. equal to g(1-3u)/(3-u) Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution block has normal...
  7. J

    Newton's Third Law-two masses on a wedge

    The Attempt at a Solution 8 kg block: T-m2g = -m2a T-m1g sin(theta)- u m1g cos (theta) = m1a T -m2g=-m2a subtract equations: -m1gsin(theta)-umigcos(theta) + m2g = (m1+m2)a or a = g(m2-m1sin(theta)-m2cos(theta)/(m1+m2) substituting values: a=g(8-10sin(30)-0.2(10)cos30)/(18) a=0.69m/s/s...
  8. M

    Normal reaction force of a roller to a wedge and the velocity

    Homework Statement http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/6505/p450.gif Cam mechanisms are used in many machines. For example, cams open and close the valves in your car engine to admit gasoline vapor to each cylinder and to allow the escape of exhaust. The principle is illustrated in Figure P5.66...
  9. D

    Calc 2 Finding volume of wedge

    Sketch: http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/6479/6219ek4.gif Find the volume of the wedge in figure (A) in above sketch by integrating the area of vertical cross sections. This is what I have so far: b(x) = length of base of triangle at position x h(x) = height of triangle at position x...
  10. M

    Understanding the Wedge Problem in Conservation of Momentum and Energy

    Homework Statement Attached in the files, scan from Resnick and Halliday. Also the answers (notice that I use a different meaning for u, but it shouldn't matter. Homework Equations Conservation of momentum, and conservation of energy. The Attempt at a Solution Initial Energy of the system...
  11. V

    What is the acceleration of the block on a frictionless wedge?

    Homework Statement (This is Harris-Benson Chap5 Problem 6, the statement reads: A block of mass m is on a wedge of mass M. All surfaces are frictionless. Suppose the wedge is accelerated towards the right by an external force at 5ms^-2 (=a). What is the acceleration of the block relative to the...
  12. P

    Accelerating wedge with friction

    Homework Statement A block rests on a wedge inclined at angle \theta . The coefficient of friction is \mu . The wedge is then given a horizontal acceleration a. Assuming that \tan (\theta) < \mu , find the minimum acceleration for the block to remain on the wedge without sliding...
  13. P

    Solve Frictionless Wedge Homework: Find Acceleration

    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. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I quick sketched up the problem in the attached picture. It...
  14. B

    Block sliding down wedge max value problem

    Hello: I have an inclined triangular wedge of angle Ø (meaning, this wedge makes angle Ø with the horizontal) and a block is lying on the wedge. the coefficient of friction between the wedge and block is u. (a) determine the max value of Ø for the block to remain motionless on the wedge...
  15. Z

    What Determines the Block's Motion on an Accelerating Wedge?

    Homework Statement A 2kg block rests on a frictionless wedge that haas 60 degree incline and an acceleraion a to the right such that the mass remains stationary relative to the wedge. a) determine a? b) what would happened if the wedge were given an acceleration larger than this value? c)...
  16. G

    Interference Wedge Problem - Analytical Chemistry&Instrumental Analysis

    Homework Statement A 10.00 cm interference wedge is to be build from a dielectric layer n=1.34 and glass plate covers which have a linear dispersion from 400 to 700 nm. a) 1st-order-interference wedge How would be its construction?Indicate its thickness at the two ends of the wedge...
  17. L

    Wavelength Conversion in Water: 640 nm Light & Wedge

    Homework Statement Light of wavelength 640 nm in water illuminates a glass (n = 1.5) wedge submerged in water (n = 1.33). If the distance between successive bright fringes is 6 mm. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I have a lot of trouble trying to convert the...
  18. F

    Calculating Angle of Wedge for Fringe Separation

    Homework Statement fringes are observed when a parrallel beam of light of wavelength 500nm is incident perpendiculary onto a wedge-shaped film with an index of refraction of 1.5. What is the angle of the wedge if the fringe separation is 1/3cm? Homework Equations t(x)=xtan(theta)...
  19. B

    What is the acceleration of a mass on a moving wedge?

    Homework Statement This is a frictionless system with the wedge on a frictionless horizontal surface. When the system is released, the horizontal wedge (mass M) with diagonal angle theta moves to the left with constant acceleration a. What is it? I hope I'm right when I say this is...
  20. S

    How to Find Acceleration and Velocity in a Block and Wedge System

    Homework Statement http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/9476/dib.th.png mA = 22kg mA = 10kg No friction At t = 0, at rest a.- Find aB b.- Find vB/A at t = 0.5s Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/3786/dib3.th.png...
  21. P

    Ball rolls down a piece of wedge

    Homework Statement A uniform ball of mass m rols down a rough wedge of mass M and angle alpha , which itself can slide on a smooth horizontal table. The whole system undergoes planar motion. How many degrees of freedoms does this system have.? Obtain langrange's equations. for special case...
  22. M

    How do I calculate the outward force exerted by a wedge on a rotating plate?

    This is not a homework question! I am not a physics guru (clearly) and need help solving what I think is probably a simple calculation for someone who knows what they're doing: I have a rotating plate with a "ramp" or wedge growing out of the perimeter of the plate. The wedge is...
  23. M

    Understanding Exterior Algebra: Determinant from Wedge Product

    Can someone please thoroughly explain how the determinant comes from the wedge product? I'm only in Cal 3 and Linear at the moment. I'm somewhat trying to learn more about the Wedge Product in Exterior Algebra to understand the determinant on a more fundamental basis. A thorough website or...
  24. L

    Frictionless Peg Slide On Wedge

    Hey, I am new but was trying to find help online and found this site...hopefully someone will be willing to help me. I used to be really good at mech but I've gone blank and my exams wed and i was wondering if someone could just help we with where to start even if they don't know the ans it...
  25. pellman

    Is there a standard for the definition of the wedge product?

    Are the factorials a part of the standard definition of the wedge product? Is there an overwhelming majority or does the definition tend to vary from author to author? (As many other things do.) What I am referring to is: given two one-forms \sigma and \omega does everyone pretty much use...
  26. D

    How Is the Force Exerted by the Wedge on the Sphere Calculated?

    Homework Statement A solid sphere of radius 1 m and mass 5 kg is placed in a wedge with θ = 29 ◦ The inner surfaces of the wedge are frictionless. The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s2 . Determine the force exerted by the wedge on the sphere at point B. Answer in units Figure, ASCII style...
  27. D

    Understanding Linear Maps and Exterior Algebras

    Homework Statement Please, I just am trying to understand the question. I wish to prove it on my own, but the way the question is phrased makes no sense. So here it is: Let us define the linear map \phi : V^{*} \otimes \bigwedge^{i} V \rightarrow \bigwedge^{i-1} V by the formula \ell...
  28. G

    Book on diff. geometry, tensors, wedge product forms etc.

    Hi all, I am taking this math methods course in grad school, and in the lectures we stormed through differential geometry. My geometry is already horrible, I find it hard to understand all these forms, fields, tensors, wedge products etc... I would be glad if you could suggest some books...
  29. B

    Calculating the Force on a Sloped Wedge & Scale

    What is the force that the scale reads (the "weight") as the mass slides down the slo There is an object on top of a wedge sitting on a scale. When the object is released, the object slides down the slope of the wedge. What is the force that the scale reads (the "weight") as the mass slides...
  30. M

    Exploring Wedge Product: A Theoretical Physics Primer

    Hi all! The prof for "theoretical methods in physics" mentioned last week the term "wedge product" but it all remained very unclear to me. I read about it in Wikipedia, but couldn`t catch it at all, cause I`m doing in the first semester now. Does anyone know where I could find it well...
  31. C

    Wedge Product as an (r+s) form

    Homework Statement If \omega \in \Lambda^{r}(V^*) and \nu \in \Lambda^{s}(V^*) show that \omega \wedge \nu \in \Lambda^{r+s}(V^*) Homework Equations \omega \wedge \nu (v_1,... ,v_r,v_{r+1},... ,v_{r+s})= \frac{1}{(r+s)!} \Sigma_{\sigma}(-1)^\sigma...
  32. D

    Calculating the Force of a Wall on a Wedge

    Homework Statement A wedge with an inclination of angle theta rests next to a wall. A block of mass m is sliding down the plane, as shown. There is no friction between the wedge and the block or between the wedge and the horizontal surface. (Intro 1 figure) what is the magnitude of the force...
  33. K

    Accelerating Wedge Problem, Help

    Accelerating Wedge Problem, Help! Homework Statement A 45degree wedge is pushed along a table with constant acceleration A. A block of mass m slides without friction on the wedge. Find its acceleration. As always, find your result in an inertial frame. Homework Equations (x - X) =...
  34. E

    Triple Integral of z in a Wedge: Correcting Limits for y

    Homework Statement Find the triple integral of z where E is bounded by the planes z=0 y=0 x+y=2 and the cylinder z^2+y^2=1 in the first octant. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution Just want to make sure that my setup is right. The limits of integration of x are 2 to 0, for z...
  35. D

    Moving Wedge - Give the accelerations in terms of components

    Homework Statement A wedge with mass M rests on a frictionless table. A block with mass m is place on the wedge. There is no friction between the block and wedge. When the system is released, what is the acceleration of the wedge and the acceleration of the block. Give the accelerations in...
  36. Z

    Air Wedge radius of the wire Problem

    Homework Statement An air wedge is formed between two glass plates separated at one edge by a very fine wire. When the wedge is illuminated from above by 600 nm light, 30 dark fringes are observed. Calculate the radius of the wire. The attempt at a solution Wasn't really sure how to go...
  37. A

    Solving the Problem: Lever & Metal Wedge in Water

    hi.. i have a problem that i need to solve.. in the attached mage, there is a submerged object in water cousing na upward lift force of 100kg. above it is a lever with a weigh attached to it weighing at 90kg. wll this weight difference be enough to move the metal wedge from point a into point...
  38. A

    Unfixed Mass and Wedge - am I correct?

    Homework Statement A mass m1 sits on an incline with mass m2 and angle \theta. Find the accelerations of m1 and m2 relative to the ground after they are released. This is a long and tricky problem (since we do not know the normal forces, and we have to solve for a combinations of...
  39. Peeter

    Factoring a wedge product into vectors? (geometric algebra)

    Anybody know a good approach to factor a wedge product (blade) into a set of vectors? Loosely, I'd describe the prodlem as finding a basis for the hypervolume that the wedge product "spans". Example to illustrate the question, taking a grade 2 blade, suppose one had something like: A =...
  40. Peeter

    Reconciling Differential Forms Inner Product of Wedge with GA Dot

    My differential forms book (Flanders/Dover) defines an inner product on wedge products for vectors that have a defined inner product, and uses that to define the hodge dual. That wedge inner product definition was a determinant of inner products. I don't actually have that book on me right...
  41. nickclarson

    Truck accelerating up/down on wedge with friction.

    Homework Statement The coefficient of static friction between a truck and road surface is \mu_{s}. What is the maximum acceleration of a four-wheel-drive truck of mass M if the road surface is at an angle of \theta with the horozontal when the truck is... a). Climbing b). Decending...
  42. J

    Force acting on wedge and block

    http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/Megatallica/wedge.jpg When the wedge is pushed by the constant force, how big must the force be in magnitude to keep the box at a constant height above the table. Assume no friction. Well the force pulling the box down is a component of its...
  43. F

    How Does Acceleration Affect Motion on an Inclined 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 downwards),Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I answered the above question on another forum, but got...
  44. M

    Wedge On A Frictionless Surface

    Homework Statement A wedge with mass rests on a frictionless horizontal table top. A block with mass is placed on the wedge. There is no friction between the block and the wedge. The system is released from rest. Homework Equations (-gm)/((M+m)tan(alpha)+(M/tan(alpha))) The...
  45. K

    Force that the wall exerts on the wedge

    A wedge with an inclination of angle theta rests next to a wall. A block of mass m is sliding down the plane, as shown. There is no friction between the wedge and the block or between the wedge and the horizontal surface. Find the magnitude, F_ww, of the force that the wall exerts on the...
  46. M

    Periodicity Conditions for Solving Laplace's Equation on a Wedge

    I have a quick question about solving Laplace's equation for a wedge with radius a and angle 60º. I need to make the periodicity conditions correctly, so that I can have a reasonable problem to solve. For a circular ring you would simply say that the equation should not differ whether you come...
  47. R

    Height of a Ball on a Moving Wedge: How Does the Angle Affect the Result?

    Homework Statement a ball with mass m and velocity v is moving up a wedge of mass M. What height does the ball reach if: a) the ramp is fixed on the table b) the ramp is able to move on a frictionless surface Homework Equations mgh (1/2)mv(squared) The Attempt at a Solution for...
  48. M

    Motion of particle on wedge on smooth surface

    Homework Statement a particle of mass m moves down the inclined face (angle A) of a wedge of mass M which is free to move on a smooth fixed horizontal table. by determining the forces acting on i) the particle, ii)the wedge and iii) the system of wedge + particle, show that the...
  49. C

    Block and wedge. Analysis of the center of mass

    Homework Statement A block of mass m rests on a wedge of mass M and height H which, in turn, rests on a horizontal table. All the surfaces are frictionless. If the system starts at rest with the block on the top of the wedge, find the displacement of the wedge during the time the block...
  50. homology

    Bilinear forms and wedge products

    Hey folks, I'm reading "Symmetry in Mechanics" by S. Singer and I'm stuck on an exercise. It asks to find an antisymmetric bilinear form on R^4 that cannot be written as a wedge product of two covectors. Here are my thoughts thus far: on R^2 its trivial to show that every antisymmetric...
Back
Top