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Wedge on Lever question

Posted: January 30th, 2017, 5:03 pm
by mderoller
Apologies if this has been asked before. A wedge is the "load" on a class 1 lever, and effort is applied to the other end pushing the wedge upward and separating 2 objects which initiates the next simple machine.

How will the judges interpret this?

1. Class 1 lever to Wedge, to next simple machine?
2. Class 1 lever to next simple machine?
3. Wedge to next simple machine?

Thank you!

Re: Wedge on Lever question

Posted: February 4th, 2017, 2:12 pm
by CT-1616
I would want to say 1st class to next transfer, as the wedge is part of the 1st class lever

Re: Wedge on Lever question

Posted: February 4th, 2017, 2:14 pm
by CT-1616
mderoller wrote:Apologies if this has been asked before. A wedge is the "load" on a class 1 lever, and effort is applied to the other end pushing the wedge upward and separating 2 objects which initiates the next simple machine.

How will the judges interpret this?

1. Class 1 lever to Wedge, to next simple machine?
2. Class 1 lever to next simple machine?
3. Wedge to next simple machine?

Thank you!

Class 1 to next simple machine, simply to be safe. The wedge is, after all, part of the lever

Re: Wedge on Lever question

Posted: February 4th, 2017, 4:55 pm
by goodcheer
mderoller wrote:Apologies if this has been asked before. A wedge is the "load" on a class 1 lever, and effort is applied to the other end pushing the wedge upward and separating 2 objects which initiates the next simple machine.

How will the judges interpret this?

1. Class 1 lever to Wedge, to next simple machine?
2. Class 1 lever to next simple machine?
3. Wedge to next simple machine?

Thank you!
In my opinion, you should be able to count the transfer as lever to wedge. When the lever moves, it is transfering energy applied at the effort end to the load end. The load end just happens to be a wedge, but what if it pulled a string to a pulley. Either way, the lever transfers energy to a different simple machine, whether wedge or pulley or another simple machine. When the wedge separates 2 objects it is doing the work of a wedge and not acting as a lever. A lever might be able to separate two objects, but not like a wedge does. Just make sure the wedge fulfills all the requirements of a wedge.