If I cut a thing in two, are the two pieces together exactly the same size as the original?
Or to rephrase it: does a knife/scissors/etc just split something or does it remove something?
If I cut a thing in two, are the two pieces together exactly the same size as the original?
Or to rephrase it: does a knife/scissors/etc just split something or does it remove something?
The term for the material removed to make a cut is kerf. You hear about it a lot with woodworking as not taking into account can lead to inaccuracies in the final dimensions of your materials.
I would think separating a material by passing another through it is cutting while separating materials with only force would be breaking if it happens along a length or tearing of it happens gradually from a single point.
A knife generally tears, it separates the material in front, causing it to tear ahead of the blade.