ABSTRACT
This demonstration shows the effect of stress distribution. Place a balloon on a single nail and hold a thin wooden plate above the balloon and position the
balloon as shown in Figure 5.1a. Gradually transfer the weight of the plate onto the balloon. Before the full weight of the plate rests on the balloon, it will burst. This happens because the balloon is in contact with the very small area of the single nail, resulting in a very high stress and causing the balloon to burst.
