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Chapter 11: Q8CQ (page 394)

How is pressure related to the sharpness of a knife and its ability to cut?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The surface area of the knife decreases when it becomes sharper.

Step by step solution

01

Definition of pressure

The force per unit area perpendicular to the surface on which the force is exerted is known as pressure. So, the pressure is directly related to force and inversely related to the area. Pressure decreases with an increase in surface area.

02

Relating the sharpness of the knife and its cutting ability to the pressure

The surface area of the knife edge will be less when the sharpness increases. A decreased area will result in increased pressure. If the pressure applied is more, the cutting efficiency will also be enhanced and can be used to cut things easily.

So, the sharpness of the knife is directly related to the pressure and cutting ability of the knife.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

You can chew through very tough objects with your incisors because they exert a large force on the small area of a pointed tooth. What pressure in Pascal can you create by exerting a force of \[{\rm{500 N}}\] with your tooth on an area of \[{\rm{1}}{\rm{.00 m}}{{\rm{m}}^{\rm{2}}}\]?

A twin-sized air mattress used for camping has dimensions ofby100cmby200cmwhen blown up. The weight of the mattress is2kg. How heavy a person could the air mattress hold if it is placed in freshwater?

You can break a strong wine bottle by pounding a cork into it with your fist, but the cork must press directly against the liquid filling the bottle—there can be no air between the cork and liquid. Explain why the bottle breaks, and why it will not if there is air between the cork and liquid.

(a) What is the density of a woman who floats in freshwater with 4.00%of her volume above the surface? This could be measured by placing her in a tank with marks on the side to measure how much water she displaces when floating and when held under water (briefly). (b) What percent of her volume is above the surface when she floats in seawater?

A negative pressure of 25.0 atm can sometimes be achieved with the device in Figure 11.44 before the water separates. (a) To what height could such a negative gauge pressure raise water? (b) How much would a steel wire of the same diameter and length as this capillary stretch if suspended from above?
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