Wedge

What happens here

The third simple machine demonstrated is the wedge. A splitting maul, a tool with a heavy head and a wedge-shaped blade, is used to split a large log into smaller pieces of firewood. The wedge converts the downward force of the swing into powerful outward forces that separate the wood fibers, effectively splitting the log with less effort than trying to tear it apart.

Goal: Demonstrate the force multiplication of a wedge for splitting.