Bed of Nails
Southern Hospitality at it's best


Description

The bed of nails is a fun demonstration. The principle of pressure as "force-per-unit-area" is clearly demonstrated. If a person steps on one nail, it will puncture the skin since the force from the person's weight is concentrated on one nail - thus there is a great pressure. When a person lays on a bed of nails, the person's weight is distributed among a large number of nails, thus the pressure on any one nail is greatly reduced and the nails do not cause any injury.

It's not magic, it's physics!


Dr Tedeschi on our bed o' nails The SPS acupuncture diet
Is it really that uncomfortable?
Catching some rays SPS is everywhere



Questions/Exercises:

  1. How would you rescue a skater who fell through thin ice?
  2. Come see the bed of nails at Student Activity Fairs, Carolina Showcase or by appointment.

Brought to you by your friendly Society of Physics Students



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Please direct all comments or suggestions to Dr. David Tedeschi via e-mail.
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Revised July 1999 [GWR]