Search the forum,

cutting

Cutting is the separation or opening of a physical object, into two or more portions, through the application of an acutely directed force.
Implements commonly used for cutting are the knife and saw, or in medicine and science the scalpel and microtome. However, any sufficiently sharp object is capable of cutting if it has a hardness sufficiently larger than the object being cut, and if it is applied with sufficient force. Even liquids can be used to cut things when applied with sufficient force (see water jet cutter).
Cutting is a compressive and shearing phenomenon, and occurs only when the total stress generated by the cutting implement exceeds the ultimate strength of the material of the object being cut. The simplest applicable equation is:





stress

=



force


area





{\displaystyle {\text{stress}}={{\text{force}} \over {\text{area}}}}
or



τ
=


F
A




{\displaystyle \tau ={\frac {F}{A}}}

The stress generated by a cutting implement is directly proportional to the force with which it is applied, and inversely proportional to the area of contact. Hence, the smaller the area (i.e., the sharper the cutting implement), the less force is needed to cut something. It is generally seen that cutting edges are thinner for cutting soft materials and thicker for harder materials. This progression is seen from kitchen knife, to cleaver, to axe, and is a balance between the easy cutting action of a thin blade vs strength and edge durability of a thicker blade.

View More On Wikipedia.org
  • 183

    Dan

    Administrator From On the forum.
    • Messages
      2,780
    • Directory
      6
    • Reaction score
      1,222
    • Points
      113
  • 2

    CorgiDirect

    From UK
    • Messages
      337
    • Reaction score
      96
    • Points
      28
  • 1

    Lee McCormack

    From ne12
    • Messages
      2
    • Reaction score
      1
    • Points
      1
  • 1

    Martin hill

    • Messages
      3
    • Reaction score
      1
    • Points
      3
  • 1

    Henry

    70 From North Wales
    • Messages
      1
    • Reaction score
      0
    • Points
      1
  • 1

    Serval

    43 From London
    • Messages
      120
    • Reaction score
      19
    • Points
      18
  • 1

    Daveafsmith

    39 From Suffolk
    • Messages
      9
    • Reaction score
      0
    • Points
      1
  • 1

    Sanjay Savani

    33 From Bolton
    • Messages
      15
    • Reaction score
      3
    • Points
      3
  • 1

    marc1977

    • Messages
      99
    • Reaction score
      1
    • Points
      8
  • 1

    anthonyl123

    44 From East Midlands
    • Messages
      5
    • Reaction score
      0
    • Points
      1
  • 1

    Anders0n

    Plumbers Arms member
    • Messages
      37
    • Reaction score
      2
    • Points
      8
  • 1

    WaterTight

    • Messages
      5,439
    • Reaction score
      2,227
    • Points
      113
  • 1

    lordyjordy111

    • Messages
      111
    • Reaction score
      11
    • Points
      18
  • 1

    nigel nicholson

    73 From devon
    • Messages
      5
    • Reaction score
      0
    • Points
      1
  • 1

    TheJames

    • Messages
      8
    • Reaction score
      2
    • Points
      3
  • 1

    Lauraelvin

    From Bristol
    • Messages
      4
    • Reaction score
      0
    • Points
      1
  • 1

    ray

    • Messages
      1
    • Reaction score
      0
    • Points
      1
  • 1

    james j smith

    • Messages
      11
    • Reaction score
      0
    • Points
      1
  • 1

    Matt0029

    36 From leeds
    • Messages
      1,137
    • Reaction score
      105
    • Points
      63
  • 1

    Mickfred

    • Messages
      3
    • Reaction score
      0
    • Points
      1
  • Creating content since 2001. Untold Media.

    Newest Plumbing Threads

    Back
    Top
    AdBlock Detected

    We get it, advertisements are annoying!

    Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website. For the best site experience please disable your AdBlocker.

    I've Disabled AdBlock