2006-12-19 03:57:47 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
When you push on an ice scraper, the force you exert into the handle is transmitted to the edge of the scraper. If the scraper has grooves, the force is transmitted to a smaller area (i.e. the "points"). This makes breaking the ice on the windshield easier.
The extreme example is to use an icepick instead of a scraper. Very little force is required to break up the ice. The grooves are a compromise since it would take forever to clean a windshield using only the point of an icepick.
If the edge is smooth, the force required to make the break is higher. If you think about it, it will make sense..
2006-12-19 04:27:53 · answer #1 · answered by acablue 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They're there to dig into thick ice on the windshield that the flat blade cannot scrape thru. You create kind of a stripe pattern thru the ice then come across it perpendicularly with the flat blade to remove it. God I'm such a stud for knowing that, do you have a map I can fold for you?
2006-12-19 04:09:31 · answer #2 · answered by Derek 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You use that part to scratch through very thick ice to expose the widshield. Then you can flip it back over and get beneath the rest of the ice with the smooth side.
2006-12-19 04:10:34 · answer #3 · answered by captainskully2000 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋