Break a Ruler With Atmospheric Pressure!

Summary

In this demonstration, the presenter shows how a seemingly simple act of hitting a wooden ruler can result in an unexpected outcome. First, the ruler is struck without any modification and simply flies away. Then, the presenter places a piece of newspaper on top of the ruler before striking it again, resulting in the ruler breaking. The cause? Atmospheric pressure and inertia. The newspaper’s lightness amplifies the force of air pressure, which, when combined with the ruler’s inertia, causes it to break. The video explores the fascinating science behind these everyday occurrences, making a complex concept accessible and intriguing.

Takeaways

• 😀 The demonstration starts with an ordinary wooden ruler placed on a table and hit with a hand.
• 😀 The first hit makes the ruler fly away, but the result doesn't impress.
• 😀 The same ruler is then placed on the table again, but this time with a piece of newspaper on top.
• 😀 The presenter recommends using a garden glove for protection before attempting the next step.
• 😀 A second, more powerful hit causes the ruler to break.
• 😀 The ruler's breakage is attributed to the force of atmospheric pressure on the newspaper.
• 😀 Atmospheric pressure exerts about 15 pounds of force per square inch.
• 😀 The area of the newspaper is around 500 square inches, resulting in a force of about 7,000 pounds (3,000 kilograms).
• 😀 Although air is underneath the newspaper, a lot of weight is still exerted due to atmospheric pressure.
• 😀 When the ruler is hit, the air underneath it cannot immediately be set in motion due to its inertia, contributing to the breakage of the ruler.

The video is abnormal, and we are working hard to fix it.
Please replace the link and try again.