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Product 13427

By: The Flinn Staff

Breaking Board Paradox Physical Science and Physics Demonstration Kit
air pressure, psi, pressure
Breaking Board Paradox Physical Science and Physics Demonstration Kit
air pressure, psi, pressure
In the Breaking Board Paradox Demonstration Kit for physical science and physics, viewers will be amazed by the simple, yet very dramatic demonstration of the connections between air pressure, surface area and inertia.

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Simple, yet very dramatic. A thin white pine stick is placed over the edge of a table. A sheet of tissue paper is placed over the stick and spread out on the table. When the overhanging portion of the stick is hit sharply with a hammer it breaks. The other end of the stick remains stationary and the paper is not torn. The large surface area of the tissue paper provides 15 psi of pressure resisting the movement of the stick. When struck, the stick cannot withstand the pressure and breaks. Students will be amazed at the results. Enough materials are provided for 10 demonstrations.

Concepts: Air pressure, surface area, inertia.
Time Required: 20 minutes
Note: A hammer is required, but not included.

Correlation to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

Science & Engineering Practices

Using mathematics and computational thinking
Developing and using models
Asking questions and defining problems

Disciplinary Core Ideas

MS-PS2.A: Forces and Motion
MS-PS2.B: Types of Interactions
MS-PS3.A: Definitions of Energy
MS-PS3.B: Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer
MS-PS3.C: Relationship between Energy and Forces
HS-PS2.A: Forces and Motion
HS-PS3.A: Definitions of Energy

Crosscutting Concepts

Cause and effect
Energy and matter
Stability and change
Systems and system models

Performance Expectations

MS-PS1-1: Develop models to describe the atomic composition of simple molecules and extended structures.
MS-PS1-2: Analyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after the substances interact to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred.
MS-PS3-2: Develop a model to describe that when the arrangement of objects interacting at a distance changes, different amounts of potential energy are stored in the system.
HS-PS2-1: Analyze data to support the claim that Newton’s second law of motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration.