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The thread of a screw is the helical structure surrounding the screw shank.
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The pitch is the distance between two consecutive screw threads.
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The screw is a simple machine that consists of a shank with a thread around it. It reduces the force required to penetrate materials.
The screw belongs to the family of inclined planes, because the thread is an inclined plane running around the shank of the screw. The pitch of the screw reflects the slope of the thread.
The smaller the pitch, the less inclined the thread. A screw with a smaller pitch has to be turned more times to enter the material, but it requires less force.
In the following image, the pitch of this screw is large, which corresponds to an inclined plane with a steep slope and a short distance to cover. To drive the screw into a material, fewer turns are required, but with more force.
Alternatively, in the following image, the pitch of this screw is small, which corresponds to an inclined plane with a gentle slope and a long distance to cover. To drive the screw into a material, more turns are required, but with less force.
The screw can be used to drill through hard materials or to attach them together. It can also move liquid or granular materials, such as snow or soil.
A screw with a small pitch reduces the force needed to penetrate hard materials, such as wood, and secure them in place.
To move snow quickly into a snow blower, a screw with a large pitch is used. The screw has to make fewer turns to move the snow, but a great force is required to make it turn. The snowblower's engine applies this great force.
