2B30.60 - Stick and Newspaper

Place the board so that about 6 inches extends beyond the end of the table. Place the tissue paper over the portion of the board on the table making sure that the paper is smoothed and wrinkle free against the table. Strike sharply with a hammer at the end of the board. The board should break without disturbing the tissue paper.
Code Number:
2B30.60
Demo Title:
Stick and Newspaper
Condition:
Good
Principle:
Air Pressure, Surface Area
Area of Study:
Fluid Mechanics
Equipment:
Newspaper, hammer or rod, and yard stick or flat thin board.
Procedure:

Place the board so that about 6 inches extends beyond the end of the table. Place the tissue paper over the portion of the board on the table making sure that the paper is smoothed and wrinkle free against the table. Strike sharply with a hammer at the end of the board. The board should break without disturbing the tissue paper. 

References:
  • Martin Gardner, "A Newspaper Trick", TPT, Vol. 40, # 5, May  2002, p. 313.
  • Ling Tsai,  "The Relation Between Gravitational Mass, Inertial Mass, and Velocity",  AJP, p. 340, April 1986.
  • M- 258:  "Hanging Mass and Stick",  DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
  • Héctor G Riveros, "Paper Proves to be Stronger Than Wood", Physics Education, Vol. 40 # 4, July 2005, p. 322. 
  • Charles Vivian, "Squeezing the Air", Science Experiments & Amusements For Children, p. 21.
  • Martin Gardner, "19, A Newspaper Trick", Smart Science Tricks, p. 34.
  • Martin Gardner, "32, Two Ways to Break a Pencil", Smart Science Tricks, p. 50.
  • Vicki Cobb and Kathy Darling, "Loaded Words", Bet You Can't!, p. 48.
  • Janice VanCleave, "18, Heavy Air", Teaching the Fun of Physics, p. 29.
  • "The Thousand-Pound Newspaper", The Boy Magician, ISBN 978-1-58816-754-5, p. 153.
  • Unesco, 700 Science Experiments for Everyone, p. 78.
  • Janice VanCleave, "Holding", 200 Gooey, Slippery, Slimy, Weird & Fun Experiments, p. 78.
  • Borislaw Bilash II, “Break the Ruler“, A Demo A Day – A Year of Physical Science Demonstrations, p. 87.


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