basic

Wedge Mechanical Advantage Calculator

IMA = L / W — slope length over wedge thickness.

Compute the ideal mechanical advantage of a wedge from its slope length L (the distance the wedge is driven) and its thickness W (the spread of the load): IMA = L / W. Larger ratios mean less effort but slower spreading.

Dr. Helena Ortiz By Dr. Helena Ortiz
Published Last reviewed 1 min read

Inputs

cm
cm

Results

Enter values and click Calculate to see results.
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How to use this calculator

  1. Fill in the inputs above using the units you already have.
  2. Values update automatically as you type — no submit button needed.
  3. Hover any result row for the underlying formula and intermediate values.

Formula

IMA = L / W

In depth

Compute the ideal mechanical advantage of a wedge from its slope length L (the distance the wedge is driven) and its thickness W (the spread of the load): IMA = L / W. Larger ratios mean less effort but slower spreading.