Which statement correctly describes edge-friendly gear compared to crack-friendly gear?

• A. Edge-friendly gear sits in cracks using internal friction; crack-friendly gear sits on edges or knobs and has different grip and load characteristics.
• B. Crack-friendly gear sits in cracks, taking advantage of internal friction; edge-friendly gear sits on edges or knobs with different grip and load characteristics.
• C. Edge-friendly gear sits near edges but has identical grip to crack-friendly gear.
• D. Edge-friendly gear and crack-friendly gear have identical grip and load characteristics.

Answer: (B)

This is about how gear interacts with rock geometry and how that changes grip and load transfer. Cracks provide a wider, two-wall contact that allows the gear to sit and resist withdrawal mainly through internal friction between the rock and the gear’s surfaces. Edge placements, on the other hand, rely on contact with a sharp edge or knob, where the grip and the way the load is carried are different due to the geometry—often less surface area and a different stress path, which changes stability under pull. So describing crack-friendly gear as sitting in cracks leveraging internal friction and edge-friendly gear as sitting on edges with distinct grip and load characteristics captures the real difference in how each type engages the rock.