Scientist demonstrates how pressure works using bed of nails, bowling ball
The pressure was on when Rick Crosslin, Wayne Township scientist in residence, laid on a board of nails today!
He did this to demonstrate how pressure works. Here’s more from him:
Pressure = Force over area
When the bowling ball was dropped on the cement brick it broke because the round shape of the ball allowed all the force to land in one small point (more pressure).
Which would be better to lay on one nail large nail or 1000 nails?
The answer is 1000 nails because it distributes the force over more area, equalling less pressure. When we dropped the large fruit on the “one nail board,” it went all the way through, demonstrating more pressure.
To see another version of this experiment and for more of Rick’s experiments, click here. The pressure experiment is in the last 2min.