what are you actually 'trading off' to make this work easier?
2006-11-16 13:33:17 · 7 answers · asked by poetic_lala 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
a can opener works on the principal of moments.
It has a pivot down the middle of it. When you apply a force to one end, you creat a moment about THAT SIDE of the pivot (which is e perpendicular distance x the force you applied)
meanwhile on the other side of the pivot, the moment have to be equal. The perpendicular distance will be decreased, so the forced exerted HAVE TO increase.
Therefore, it's sort of like converting a force you applied into a larger amount of force
2006-11-16 14:40:13 · answer #1 · answered by kaaydenn 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is a lot easier to open a can than to have to spend hours home-canning a product, and that seems like a pretty good trade-off.
2006-11-16 21:37:11 · answer #2 · answered by boots 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You save energy by trading the point where the blade impacts the can edge and sits away from the force extended by your hand. It's called the fulcrum point. Your Work is decreased the further away from the point of impact or point of contact. If a can opener were the size of pruning shears, you'd save a lot of energy, but the thing wouldn't fit in your kitchen drawer. Hence, electric can openers were invented.
2006-11-17 01:05:03 · answer #3 · answered by Steven R 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever tried to use a hammer to open a can?
Something tells me you don't have a good can opener --but a crappy little military 'Thumb Death' keyring can opener is a lot easier to use than a saw or trying to suck chicken soup through a straw from a hole you poked in the can... and I should know...
2006-11-16 21:41:16 · answer #4 · answered by Roasted Kiwi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cans were used during the early wars etc . and they had to use bayonets to open them , i remember reading somewhere that the can opener was actualy evented about 20-30 YEARS !!!!! after the first can was invented......
2006-11-16 21:38:28 · answer #5 · answered by coolbooks 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you every tried to open a can without one.
2006-11-16 21:40:33 · answer #6 · answered by kny390 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is like a gear ...as you rotate it a certain distance it takes that energy and applies it over a smaller distance on the can.
2006-11-16 21:38:51 · answer #7 · answered by RichUnclePennybags 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋