======Balloon Bed of Nails======


<WRAP right box>
**Materials: **{{$demo.materials_description}}\\
**Difficulty: **{{$demo.difficulty_description}}\\
**Safety: **{{$demo.safety_description}}\\
\\
**Categories:** {{$demo.categories}}
\\


**Alternative titles:** Balloon on Nails Demonstration
</WRAP>

====Summary====                   
{{$demo.summary}}



====Procedure====  
  - Prepare the base board by pre-drilling holes for nails and insert them to form a nail bed.   
  - Inflate a clear balloon and press it onto a single nail to show the audience that the balloon pops instantly. 
  - Inflate another clear balloon and place it on the bed of nails.  
  - Press onto the balloon with a flat board. Notice how much pressure the balloon can withstand before popping.



====Links==== 
Bed of Nails - Cool Science Experiment - Sick Science!: 
{{youtube>vo2iE94iAoA?}}\\

A Balloon and a Bed of Nails Demo - MrGrodskiChemistry: 
{{youtube>gakBe8PBWVc?}}\\

📄 Bed of Nails – Tabletop Variation - Steve Spangler: [[https://stevespangler.com/experiments/bed-of-nails-tabletop/]]\\



====Variations====
  * Test different nail spacing to see how much pressure the balloon can withstand.  
  * Try balloons from different brands or thicknesses—do some last longer?  
  * Compare partially inflated vs. fully inflated balloons.  
  * Measure how much force (e.g., using weights on the top board) it takes before the balloon bursts.



====Safety Precautions====
  - Always use adult supervision when working with nails and tools.  
  - Balloons can pop suddenly—warn participants about loud noises. 
  - Keep sharp nails secured; avoid touching the tips directly.
  - Do not press directly on the balloon with your hand - the board is there to protect if the balloon pops.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Why does the balloon pop easily with one nail but not with many nails?  
  * How does distributing force change the pressure experienced by the balloon?  
  * What might happen if the nails were spaced farther apart?  
  * How does this relate to circus performers lying on a bed of nails?  
  * Why is lying down or standing up the trickiest part of the real bed-of-nails act?