Which is Stronger, You or Air?

• Print

Here’s a great trick to show your friends.

What you will need:

• one ruler and
• one page of a newspaper

1. Place the ruler on a table so that part of it extends past the edge of the table.
2. Put the newspaper page on top of the part of the ruler that is on the table.
3. Ask your friends what they think will happen to the newspaper if you hit the extended end of the ruler.
4. Make a fist and hit the end of the ruler.

Did the paper lift? Have your friends try it.

Why won’t the paper lift up when you hit the ruler? Air actually has weight or pressure, 15 pounds per square inch. Air pressing down on the newspaper resists being lifted up quickly.