Whereelsebesidesthekitchencanyoufindwedges?Let’sfind out.

Lookinanygarageortoolbox.Nailsarewedges.Soarethumbtacksandpushpins.Afterthesewedgesaredrivenorpushedintoamaterial,suchaswoodorcork,frictionholdstheminplace.That’shownailsholdpiecesofwoodtogether.That’showyourpaperstayspinnedtothebulletin board.

Lotsofgardentoolsaremadeofwedges.Thebladesofshovelsandhoes,forexample.Prettymuchanythingdesignedtodigisa wedge.

Snowplowsarewedgesthatscrapesnowoffroads.Theshapeofthewedgeallowstheplowtoreachunderthesnowandlift itoffthe road.

Somewedgesareeasytosee,likeachiselthatbreaksoffbitsofrockwhilecreatingastatue.Somewedgesarehiddeninsidetools,likea zipper!

Whenyoupulluponthezipper,smallwedgesinsidethesliderpushtheteethtogether.Whenyoupulldown,anotherwedgeseparatestheteeth,likeatinyaxesplitting wood.

Sofar,mostofthewedgesyouhavereadaboutcutthroughsolidthings.Theycancutthroughliquidsandgases,too.Dowedgescutthroughwater?Sure,justlookatthefrontofaboat.Thewedgeshapeofthebowletstheboatsliceeasilythroughthe water.

Wedgescanalsopushthroughair.Thewedge-shapefrontofcars,planes,andtrainspushawaytheairastheymove.Thentheycango faster!

Thesewedgesjustfollownature’slead.Manyanimals,suchasdolphins,havesleekwedgeshapesthathelpsthemmove swiftly.

Nowthatyouknowsomethingaboutwedges,thinkaboutsomewaysyoumightusethissimplemachineonacampingtrip.Hint:Whatwouldyouusetoroast marshmallows?