Whereelsebesidesthekitchencanyoufindwedges?Let’sgoona “wedgehunt” andfind out.

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

Lotsofgardentoolsaremadeofwedges.Theseincludethebladesofshovels,hoes,andweedingtools—prettymuchanythingdesignedto dig.

Snowplowsarewedgesthatscrapesnowoffroads.Theshapeofthewedgeallowstheplow toreachbeneaththesnowandlift itoffthe road.

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

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

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.

Nowthatyouknowsomethingaboutwedges,thinkaboutsomewaysyoumightusethissimplemachineonacampingtrip.Hint:Whatwouldyouusetoroast marshmallows?