Describe what is happening in this demonstration in terms of pressure.(hint:think atmospheric!)?

Question

The following is a description of a demonstration.

Step 1: A newspaper is placed over a meter stick that is hanging over the edge of a table halfway.

Step 2: At the edge of the meter stick that is hanging over the table, it is given a sharp hit. The meter stick breaks, but the newspaper doesn't move!

Describe what is happening in this demonstration in terms of pressure.

(hint: think atmospheric!)

Good Luck for the winner of the quickest best answer.

8D

Answer 1

The surface area of the newspaper is very much greater than the protruding half of the meter rule.
Many more molecules of air are hitting the newspaper than the protruding half of the meter rule, and the air pressure over the area of the newspaper is much greater..
The force required to move all the air molecules on and just by the surface of the paper out of the way is much greater than the force required to break the ruler, so it snaps.