By Zencalcy Editorial TeamLast reviewed About us
A wedge is effectively two inclined planes back to back. Its ideal mechanical advantage is the length of the wedge divided by its thickness, which is why a long, thin wedge splits wood with far less effort than a blunt one.
Force multiplication from wedge length and thickness.
MA = L / t F_load = F_effort × MA
L is the wedge length and t its thickness, both in the same unit. Friction along the faces reduces the real advantage, sometimes by more than half.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| MA | Ideal mechanical advantage, dimensionless. |
| L | Wedge length, in metres. |
| t | Wedge thickness, in metres. |
MA = 0.2 / 0.05 = 4, so 100 N of effort produces 400 N of splitting force in the ideal case. A thinner wedge at the same length would multiply more.
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They have a larger length-to-thickness ratio, so the same effort is concentrated into a smaller opening. The trade-off is that a thin wedge is weaker and may bend.
Results are computed from the standard equations of classical mechanics. Unit conversions use the SI definitions published by NIST. Air resistance is ignored unless the calculator names a drag model.
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Content updated: September 2026