Chopstick Challenge: The Invisible Power of Air That Beats Super Strength!
Ken Kuwako, Science Trainer. Every Day is an Experiment.
It’s like magic! Imagine being able to snap a hard chopstick (or a wooden ice cream stick!) clean in half using nothing more than a single sheet of newspaper. What’s your first reaction? You’re probably thinking, “No way that’s possible!” Well, get ready to be amazed. This phenomenon isn’t about super strength; it’s a genuine science magic trick that harnesses the power of air. Today, let’s unlock the secret behind this jaw-dropping experiment from a scientific perspective!
Seeing is Believing! Check Out This Incredible Phenomenon
Instead of just describing it, the best way to understand is to see it in action. Take a look at this video:
Pretty cool, right? The setup is surprisingly simple. First, place a chopstick on a table so that a small part of it overhangs the edge. Next, lay a single sheet of newspaper over the chopstick. For the best chance of success, make sure to smooth out the newspaper to eliminate any air pockets underneath.
That’s all the prep you need. Now, take a karate-chop stance and quickly strike the overhanging tip of the chopstick with a sharp “Hah!”
The next thing you know… the newspaper barely moves, but the chopstick snaps instantly!
The Science Unveiled! The Invisible Force of Atmospheric Pressure
The real star of this magic trick is atmospheric pressure. We don’t usually notice it, but the air surrounding our planet has weight. This weight causes a force that constantly presses on us from every direction. That’s what atmospheric pressure is. And get this: the force is equivalent to about 10 tons per square meter! That’s like having the weight of two elephants pressing down on your back right now.
“If I’m being pressed that hard, shouldn’t I be squashed flat?” you might wonder. Don’t worry! An equal force is pushing out from inside our bodies, which is why we live our lives completely unaware of this immense pressure.
So, why does the chopstick break when covered with newspaper? The moment you strike the chopstick, it tries to lift the newspaper. However, the huge blanket of air is resting on the large surface area of the spread-out newspaper. When you hit it quickly, the air on top doesn’t have time to get out of the way.
As a result, the invisible, giant hand of “atmospheric pressure” acting over the newspaper’s vast area powerfully pins the paper down for that brief instant. This “pinning force” is much stronger than the force needed to break the chopstick, leaving the chopstick nowhere to go but to snap over the edge of the table, which acts as a pivot point.
In short, it’s easiest to think of the flimsy newspaper as momentarily becoming a “steel plate with an elephant sitting on it.”
Atmospheric Pressure is Everywhere!
This incredible force of atmospheric pressure is at work all around us in our daily lives:
Suction cups stick to the wall: When you press the cup onto the wall, the air inside is pushed out. The outside atmospheric pressure then presses the cup firmly against the wall.
Drinking through a straw: When you suck on a straw, you lower the air pressure inside. The higher atmospheric pressure outside pushes down on the liquid’s surface, forcing the liquid up and into your mouth.
Bags of potato chips on a mountain: At higher altitudes, the air is thinner, and the atmospheric pressure is lower. Since the air inside the sealed chip bag is at the pressure from a lower altitude, it pushes outward, making the bag puff up and feel “full.”
The air we never think about is actually this powerful, silently supporting our world. This experiment is easy and safe to set up, so be sure to try it at home! When you feel the power of this “invisible force” firsthand, you’ll surely be captivated by the wonder of science!
Contact and Requests
Bring the wonder and fun of science closer to home! We’ve collected easy-to-do science experiments and their simple explanations. Feel free to search around!
The content of Science Notes has been published as a book. Details here (Link in Japanese).
About the administrator, Ken Kuwako, click here (Link in Japanese).
For various requests (writing, lectures, science classes, TV supervision, appearances, etc.), click here (Link in Japanese).
・Updates on articles are posted on X!
The Science Notes Channel is streaming experiment videos!
４月のイチオシ実験！
- 光の魔法CMYウォーターキューブ：光の魔法を体験せよ！水を注ぐと新たな立方体が出現する魔法のような実験です。
テレビ番組・科学監修等のお知らせ
- 4月9日（木）「THE突破ファイル」（日本テレビ ）の科学監修を行いました。夜7時〜となります。
書籍のお知らせ
- サクセス15 ４月号にて、野球の科学について記事を執筆しました（2026/3）
- 『大人のための高校物理復習帳』（講談社）…一般向けに日常の物理について公式を元に紐解きました。特設サイトでは実験を多数紹介しています。※増刷がかかり６刷となりました（2026/02/01）
- 『きめる!共通テスト 物理基礎 改訂版』（学研）… 高校物理の参考書です。イラストを多くしてイメージが持てるように描きました。授業についていけない、物理が苦手、そんな生徒におすすめです。特設サイトはこちら。
講師・ショー・研究等のお知らせ
- 3/20（金） 日本理科教育学会オンライン全国大会2026「慣性の法則の概念形成を目指した探究的な学びの実践」について発表しました。
- 6/14（日） 千葉大学インスタレーション「探究」にて講師を務めます
- 7/18（土） 教員向け実験講習会「ナリカカサイエンスアカデミー」の講師をします。お会いしましょう。
- 10/10（土） 秘密兵器「帯電ガン」が炸裂！ビリビリ！ドキドキ！静電気サイエンスショー＠千葉市科学フェスタ（午後予定）
- 各種SNS X(Twitter)／instagram／Facebook／BlueSky／Threads
Explore
- 楽しい実験…お子さんと一緒に夢中になれるイチオシの科学実験を多数紹介しています。また、高校物理の理解を深めるための動画教材も用意しました。
- 理科の教材… 理科教師をバックアップ！授業の質を高め、準備を効率化するための選りすぐりの教材を紹介しています。
- Youtube…科学実験等の動画を配信しています。
- 科学ラジオ …科学トピックをほぼ毎日配信中！AI技術を駆使して作成した「耳で楽しむ科学」をお届けします。
- 講演 …全国各地で実験講習会・サイエンスショー等を行っています。
- About …「科学のネタ帳」のコンセプトや、運営者である桑子研のプロフィール・想いをまとめています。
- お問い合わせ …実験教室のご依頼、執筆・講演の相談、科学監修等はこちらのフォームからお寄せください。
- Spin to Soar! Master the Science of the DIY Gyro Plane
- Secret Mouths Hidden Beneath Leaves? Capture Stunning Stomata with Your Smartphone (Tradescantia Observation Guide)
- See the “Height” of Electricity!? Master Kirchhoff’s Laws in 3D (High School Physics)
- Master the Toughest Topic in Physics: Helical Motion! Break Free from the Textbook with 3D Graphs (Grapher & GeoGebra)
- Transform Your Lessons! Effortless & Crystal-Clear Mitosis Observation with Safranin Solution
- A Green Universe Under the Microscope! Discover Living Cells with Elodea
- The “Flower Memory” Hidden in an Apple’s Base. Are Strawberries and Apples Both “Imposters”? The Surprising Truth About What We Really Eat
- Step Into a Tiny Universe Under the Microscope! A Guide to Discovering “Living Works of Art” in Your Biotope
- Reveal the True Nature of Sound! Experience the Magic of Wave Science and Visualization with GeoGebra
