You will need:
- Thin wooden ruler (not
more than 1/8th of an
inch) - Newspaper
- Smooth table, with
plenty of open space
around
Would you believe it if someone told you that they could break a ruler with nothing else but some newspaper and air? If you thought they were joking, then think again. Conduct this experiment to find out how a ruler can be broken with paper.
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place a ruler on a smooth table with at
least 5-6 inches of the ruler protruding
from the corner. - Next, place a newspaper (double-folded) over the ruler, and without holding the ruler, place a karate chop on the protruding side of the ruler.
- The ruler will most certainly fly off the table, but it will not break.
- Repeat this experiment again. This time, unfold the newspaper, and place 2-3 sheets flat over the ruler, with 5 inches of the ruler protruding from the edge.
- Once again without bracing the ruler, give the protruding edge a clean karate chop.
RESULT
The ruler should most certainly snap in two. This happens because of air pressure. When we first lie the newspaper folded, the ruler just flies off the table. However, when the newspaper lies unfolded, flat on the ruler, it creates a sort of suction. As a result, when you hit the ruler, the end on the table tries to lift off, but air cannot fill quickly between the newspaper and the ruler, thus making it snap.
