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The rules say the wedge must separate two touching objects. Does cutting something in half count? i.e., chopping a board in half or dividing a piece of putty or cutting a string.

mommyjo2 wrote:The rules say the wedge must separate two touching objects. Does cutting something in half count? i.e., chopping a board in half or dividing a piece of putty or cutting a string.

I don't see why it wouldn't. By cutting something in half, you're essentially making it into two separate objects.

Are you sure about that? You're not separating two touching objects, you're modifying one object into two.

I don't question that a saw or knife is a wedge; the issue is about the way the rule is written. So many times, a rule or new definition gets added because someone has a different vision of what's expected to happen than you -- but they managed to get the attention of the event writers.

Always ask yourself, "Am I doing what the rules actually SAY?" It should be simple and obvious -- once you start having to argue about it, you're skating on thin ice, and results aren't guaranteed.

Strongly suggest asking at a higher level, if you still feel strongly about it.

I think I misinterpreted the question. If you are looking to cut something in half within the machine (so that the machine is autonomously cutting something in half), then I wouldn't be sure that would count as a wedge. I'd suggest submitting an FAQ on soinc.org

Another wedge question -

Does pulling a paperclip out of a hole with a string count as a wedge? It's separating two solid objects - I guess the string would be the wedge, and the paperclip and the hole in a solid would be the two solid objects?

Yeah, I think you have to split two touching things. An example is the wedge can split dominoes. Better to be safe than sorry. But, yes, you should submit a FAQ to Soinc to clarify. That's best.

mommyjo2 wrote:The rules say the wedge must separate two touching objects. Does cutting something in half count? i.e., chopping a board in half or dividing a piece of putty or cutting a string.

HeatherFeather wrote:Another wedge question - Does pulling a paperclip out of a hole with a string count as a wedge? It's separating two solid objects - I guess the string would be the wedge, and the paperclip and the hole in a solid would be the two solid objects?

Try to make the wedge step as obvious as possible. For example, have a wedge resting above two pieces of wood. Then have a mass fall on top of the wedge, driving the wedge down between the two pieces of wood, separating them. The moving wood can trigger the next step.

If I have a piece of paper which is stopping sand from falling, and that piece of paper is pulled away, does that count as a wedge?

Uncle Fester wrote:Are you sure about that? You're not separating two touching objects, you're modifying one object into two.

I don't question that a saw or knife is a wedge; the issue is about the way the rule is written. So many times, a rule or new definition gets added because someone has a different vision of what's expected to happen than you -- but they managed to get the attention of the event writers.

Always ask yourself, "Am I doing what the rules actually SAY?" It should be simple and obvious -- once you start having to argue about it, you're skating on thin ice, and results aren't guaranteed.

Strongly suggest asking at a higher level, if you still feel strongly about it.

If the racquetball closes a pair of scissors, which cuts a string, which drops a mass, which pulls a car up a ramp via pulleys ...

Does that get documented as Lever -> Pulley (+ points, as long as the scissor business is documented), or would that be documented as Lever -> Wedge (no points, but the scissor IS a wedge), and Wedge -> Pulley (+ points)? Or would that vary from supervisor to supervisor?

At states, my partner had to get mediation because of a wedge question. (Luckily, she won ) What was decided was that the rules are as simple as they get - as long ad they SEPARATE two touching objects, it counts. My suggestion is take the rules literally.