The wedge is a moving inclined plane that is used to lift, hold, or break apart an object. A wedge converts force applied to its blunt end into force perpendicular to its inclined surface. In contrast to a stationary plane where force is applied to the object being moved, with a wedge the object is stationary and the force is being applied to the plane. Examples of a wedge include knives and chisels.

Boyle's law states that "for a fixed amount of an ideal gas kept at a fixed temperature, pressure and volume are inversely proportional". Expressed as a formula, that's \(\frac{P_1}{P_2} = \frac{V_2}{V_1}\)

Newton's Law of Univeral Gravitation defines the general formula for the attraction of gravity between two objects:  \(\vec{F_{g}} = { Gm_{1}m_{2} \over r^2}\) . In the specific case of an object falling toward Earth, the acceleration due to gravity (g) is approximately 9.8 m/s². 

Power is the rate of doing work or \(\frac{W}{t}\). To increase power, increase the work being done in the same amount of time or do the same amount of work in less time.

Mechanical advantage (MA) can be calculated knowing only the distance the effort (blue arrow) moves and the distance the resistance (green box) moves. The equation is:

MA = \( \frac{E_d}{R_d} \)

where E_d is the effort distance and R_d is the resistance distance. For this problem, the equation becomes:

MA = \( \frac{5 ft.}{1.67 ft.} \) = 3

You might be wondering how having an effort distance of 3 times the resistance distance is an advantage. Remember the principle of moments. For a lever in equilibrium the effort torque equals the resistance torque. Because torque is force x distance, if the effort distance is 3 times the resistance distance, the effort force must be \( \frac{1}{3} \) the resistance force. You're trading moving 3 times the distance for only having to use \( \frac{1}{3} \) the force.