Egg Drop
Purpose: To explore concepts of momentum and collision by developing a container to lessen the force of impact when an egg is dropped from a high place.
Introduction:
You will design and build a Falling Egg Apparatus that will allow an uncooked, large Grade A chicken egg (provided by FHS) to survive a drop from a height of approximately 38 feet with NO damage to the eggshell. If the shell cracks, we call the morgue. It’s all over!
Goal:
The lightest egg apparatus allowing the egg to drop from the height of 38 feet, without cracking, and landing within the 5’ target wins the competition. If a tie occurs, the egg landing closest to the center of the target will win.
Rules:
1. The egg apparatus shall be a self-contained, free falling device (no parachutes).
2. Students must design and construct the egg apparatus. Commercially constructed egg apparatuses will not be legal.
3. No side of an egg apparatus shall measure more than 30 cm. The egg apparatus (with egg) must pass freely through a 30 cm box
4. It must have an opening for insertion and removal of the egg.
a. Your teacher will supervise insertion of the egg at the time of competition b. The egg apparatus builder will be allowed to secure the opening before the drop
5. One raw USDA Grade A or larger chicken egg will occupy the egg apparatus during the entire flight 6. Illegal: "Treated", hard-boiled, or rotten eggs. The egg apparatus may not include any substances that
will splatter including peanut butter, Jell-O, or liquids. It may not contain fruits or vegetables (popcorn is okay), powdered soap, flammable substances of any kind, or glass. No parachutes may be used.
7. Eggs may not be "treated" in any manner (for example, hard-boiled as stated above, applying tape or nail polish directly to the shell of the egg, etc.).
8. All entries will be weighed prior to placing the egg inside.
9. No more than one entry per team is permitted.
10.All entries must be clearly and correctly labeled with entrants’ names.
11.The egg apparatus, with egg, will be released by a member of the team from an approximate height of 38 feet
12.The egg must survive intact (no cracks)
13.Any egg broken during extraction is considered a non-survivor.
Responsibilities:
You will be assigned to a group of 2-3 people. You and your group members will:
o brainstorm possible designs for an egg apparatus o decide on a final plan – complete planning worksheet o gather materials you might use by ________________
o build the egg apparatus in class
o make pre-drop measurements and sketch o drop the egg apparatus on launch day o write post-drop summary and re-design
Some Provided Supplies:
Styrofoam Cups
Duct tape
Scotch Tape
String
Toothpicks
Rubber bands
Straws
Sheet of Paper
Grading Rubric:
Documentation Planning Worksheet Pre-drop measurements Sketch
Post-drop summary Redesign
20 points
Well-planned and all written
15 points Briefly written
10 points
Too much missing information
Size 20 points
Meets 30 cm size requirements
0 points
Does not meet size requirements
Mass 20 points
0-150 grams
15 points 151-300 grams
10 points 301-500 grams
Target 20 points
Center of target
15 points
Outer ring of target
10 points Outside of target
Egg breakage 20 points
Egg does not break
0 points Egg breaks
Design - bonus Up to 10 points
Creativity/Design
Deductions - MINUS Failure to bring materials by designated date will result in deduction of 11 points for every day you fail to have them.
Planning Worksheet
Define the Problem-
Gather Information (Brainstorm Ideas) -
Make hypothesis-
Describe your pre-construction design
Team members:
Sketch your egg apparatus. Label with all measurements:
List materials needed:
TEAM MEMBERS –
__________________________________- launch director __________________________________
__________________________________
Pre-Drop Measurements
Size – Dimensions
Length _____________ cm Width _____________ cm Height ______________ cm Mass ______________ g
Final sketch of egg apparatus. Label with all measurements:
Distance from Target Center:
______________________ cm Center Outer Outside Ring Ring Target Egg
Break?
(circle one) no yes
Launch Summary and Redesign ( Individually on Separate Sheet of Paper &
Attach them To Lab) (30pts.)
1. What happened when you dropped your egg apparatus? Why?
2. Reflect on your design as an engineer would. How could you improve your design?
What new design or materials would you try in the future?
3. What is momentum?
4. What is impulse?
5. Because of what you know about momentum and impulse, how can you lessen the force of impact on the egg?
6. Give one example of how, what you learned in this project applies to a real life situations. Describe the scenario and how the principles of momentum and impulse work in that situation.
TEAM MEMBERS –
______________________- launch director ______________________
______________________
Pre-Drop Measurements
Size – Dimensions
Length _____________ cm
Less than 30 cm each side
= 20 pts
Over 30 cm any side = 0 pts
0-150 g = 20 pts 151 – 300 g = 15 pts 301 – 500 g = 10 pts
> 500 g = 0 pts Inside circle = 20 pts On tarp = 15 pts Off tarp = 10 pts
Width _____________ cm Height ______________ cm Mass ______________ g Distance from Target Center:
______________________ cm Center Outer Outside Ring Ring Target Egg
Break?
(circle one) no yes
No break = 20 pts Break = 0 pts
Paperwork (teacher) (20pts)
Bonus points (teacher) Creativity / redesign
