Dining with Wedges
Wedges are good for a lot more than splitting wood. They separate all sorts of things. Like food! In fact, you use several wedges every time you eat.
Now, think about what happens when you stick a fork into food, like a piece of broccoli. You use effort to apply a downward force to the fork as you push it into the broccoli. Each tine on the fork directs that force outward. This separates the broccoli and lets the fork go deeper.
Now the fork is in the broccoli. Friction between the broccoli and each tine holds it snuggly in place.
Now cut a piece with another wedge―a knife. The blade of a knife is a narrow wedge that lets you slice food easily. After you lift the food to your mouth, your own personal wedges take over―your teeth. Each tooth separates the food into pieces small enough to swallow. The teeth in the front of your mouth are single wedges. The teeth along the sides have high points that are small wedges.
How about ice cream for dessert? You’ll want to eat it with a spoon. The edge of the spoon is a wedge and cuts easily through your frozen treat.
