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  • Subject: The Physics behind Nutcrackers?
Subject: The Physics behind Nutcrackers?

How exactly do these work? Why is it easier to crack the nuts when you hold the handles further away from the nut?

[Edited on 12.12.2012 5:20 AM PST]

  • 12.12.2012 5:19 AM PDT
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Pretty basic physics my friend. It's almost exactly like a torque wrench.

  • 12.12.2012 5:22 AM PDT


Posted by: Sandtrap
Pretty basic physics my friend. It's almost exactly like a torque wrench.

I have studied physics but this question never came up. Strange! Would you care to explain how it works? :)

[Edited on 12.12.2012 5:24 AM PST]

  • 12.12.2012 5:24 AM PDT

-Avatar-

I work for the Department of Defense.


Posted by: Nebowski

Posted by: Sandtrap
Pretty basic physics my friend. It's almost exactly like a torque wrench.

I have studied physics but this question never came up. Strange! Would you care to explain how it works? :)


Physics is the answer to how and why it works.

  • 12.12.2012 5:27 AM PDT


Posted by: Darkm0d

Posted by: Nebowski

Posted by: Sandtrap
Pretty basic physics my friend. It's almost exactly like a torque wrench.

I have studied physics but this question never came up. Strange! Would you care to explain how it works? :)


Physics is the answer to how and why it works.

Doesn't answer my question, the physics is what I want explained.

  • 12.12.2012 5:28 AM PDT
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Posted by: Nebowski

Posted by: Sandtrap
Pretty basic physics my friend. It's almost exactly like a torque wrench.

I have studied physics but this question never came up. Strange! Would you care to explain how it works? :)


In my tired state, I'd make a fool of myself, but here goes. You know that the longer a wrench is, the easier it is to turn a stubborn bolt or nut right? I imagine it works somewhat the same with a nut cracker, you need to use less pressure the farther away you are on the handle, but due to the design, more pressure is placed down on the nut.

Also, lol nuts.

Hint hint, the curves most seem to have probably play a role in this.

[Edited on 12.12.2012 5:33 AM PST]

  • 12.12.2012 5:29 AM PDT


Posted by: Sandtrap

Posted by: Nebowski

Posted by: Sandtrap
Pretty basic physics my friend. It's almost exactly like a torque wrench.

I have studied physics but this question never came up. Strange! Would you care to explain how it works? :)


In my tired state, I'd make a fool of myself, but here goes. You know that the longer a wrench is, the easier it is to turn a stubborn bolt or nut right? I imagine it works somewhat the same with a nut cracker, you need to use less pressure the farther away you are on the handle, but due to the design, more pressure is placed down on the nut.

Also, lol nuts.

Think I found something here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lever

  • 12.12.2012 5:33 AM PDT

http://i.imgur.com/fsISj.png

The moment of a force is the ability of that force to apply a turning force to an object. It equals the force multiplied by the perpendicular distance of the force from the pivot.

In a nutcrackers, when you apply a force to the handles, they cause the pincers to rotate together, thus applying force to a nut inbetween them. The long handles between where you apply the force and the pivot mean the force has a large moment, thus there is a strong turning effect on the pincers, thus more force is applied to the nut.

[Edited on 12.12.2012 5:36 AM PST]

  • 12.12.2012 5:34 AM PDT
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Posted by: Nebowski

Posted by: Sandtrap

Posted by: Nebowski

Posted by: Sandtrap
Pretty basic physics my friend. It's almost exactly like a torque wrench.

I have studied physics but this question never came up. Strange! Would you care to explain how it works? :)


In my tired state, I'd make a fool of myself, but here goes. You know that the longer a wrench is, the easier it is to turn a stubborn bolt or nut right? I imagine it works somewhat the same with a nut cracker, you need to use less pressure the farther away you are on the handle, but due to the design, more pressure is placed down on the nut.

Also, lol nuts.

Think I found something here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lever


Yeah, that's basically what I was going for.

  • 12.12.2012 5:34 AM PDT
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Posted by: Achronos
It isn't our shiznit anymore.

It's the same reason door-handles are on the opposite side of the door from the hinge. You ever try opening a door with your hand inches away from the hinge? It's hard as -blam!-.

  • 12.12.2012 6:14 AM PDT
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Foman is my favorite moderator. <3

Called leverage bro.

  • 12.12.2012 6:15 AM PDT