A wedge is a simple machine that primarily changes what?

• A. The direction of the force
• B. The magnitude of the force
• C. The velocity
• D. The distance moved

Answer: (A)

A wedge’s primary job is to redirect your push into forces that drive materials apart. When you push along the length of the wedge, the contact forces on the wedge faces push outward perpendicular to those faces, creating a separating force that splits or drives things apart. That shift from a single pushing direction into outward forces on both sides is why direction, not size, is what the wedge emphasizes. The wedge can influence how much force you feel you must apply (depending on its geometry), but its defining function is changing the direction of the force to accomplish splitting or cutting.