Weight of air on paper

Lay a cigar-box lid over the edge of a smooth table. Spread an undamaged sheet of newspaper and smooth it firmly on to the lid. Hit the projecting part of the lid hard with your fist. It breaks, without the paper flying up.

The lid is only slightly tilted when it is hit. In the space formed between the lid, newspaper and table, the air cannot flow in quickly enough, so that there is a partial vacuum, and the normal air pressure above holds the lid still as if it were in a screw clamp.