Balloon Bed of Nails

A single nail easily pops a balloon because all the pressure is concentrated at one point. But when many nails share the load, the pressure is spread out, allowing a balloon (and by analogy, a person) to withstand much more force before popping.

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

Bed of Nails - Cool Science Experiment - Sick Science!:

A Balloon and a Bed of Nails Demo - MrGrodskiChemistry:

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

• 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.

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

• 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?