Technically a portable double inclined plane, a wedge is a simple machine used to separate two objects, or portions of objects, through the application of force, perpendicular to the inclined surfaces, developed by conversion of force applied to the wide end. The mechanical advantage of a wedge depends on the ratio of its length to its thickness. Where a short wedge with a wide angle does the job faster, it requires more force than a long wedge with a smaller angle. An inclined plane is a plane surface set at an angle, other than a right angle, against a horizontal surface. ... In physics, a simple machine is any device that only requires the application of a single force to work. ... In physics, a force is defined as a rate of change of momentum (Newtonian definition). ... In physics and engineering, mechanical advantage (MA) is the factor by which a machine multiplies the force put into it. ...

The origin of wedge is unknown, through it has been in use as early as stone age.

Examples include axes and nails. Knives and chisels can sometimes be used as wedges, however, they are more fundamentally cutting implements. In some sense, door stop(Door wedge) can also be regarded as wedge technically, but its main function is to provide a friction between the door and the ground rather than separating materials. The axe (or ax) is an ancient and ubiquitous tool that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood, harvest timber, as a weapon and a ceremonial or heraldic symbol. ... Nail or nails can mean Look up nail in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Traditional Finnish puukko knife A knife is a sharp-edged hand tool used for cutting. ... Steel woodworking chisel. ... Cutting is the separation of a physical object, or a portion of a physical object, into two portions, through the application of an acutely directed force. ... Door stops are objects or devices used to hold a door open or closed, or to prevent said door from opening too widely. ...