Egg Drop Project:
Purpose
The object is to build a container that will protect one Large Egg from breaking when it is
dropped from third floor of Stairwell 7. The egg will simulate a human in a car and your job is to
design and construct a container (according to the rules) that will protect the egg from breaking
when it crashes into the ground. You will also look at how Kinetic Energy (KE = ½ mv2) and
Potential Energy (PE = mgh) is involved. Where m= mass, g = acceleration due to gravity, v =
velocity and h = height)
Students may work in teams of no more than two and construct a vehicle that will protect the
egg. The crash test day is scheduled for Monday/ Tuesday, December 14/ 15. Your project is
due that day. No exceptions.
Rules
1. The vehicle cannot use parachutes, air foils, wings, or helium balloons. No lighter than air
gasses are allowed.
2. The vehicle must not be larger than a 8” cube. This size limit does not apply at the point of,
or after impact.
3. The container must have a place for an egg driver.
4. The eggs must be enclosed in a container. The container must be able to be opened before
and after the egg drop. The eggs will be given to participants before the competition and
they will have 30 seconds to secure their eggs in their container before testing.
5. The container with the eggs must have at least 50% of the volume visibly empty. Open cell
foam and packing material will be measured as one solid mass and minute air pockets in
foam or between packing materials will not figure into the judge’s calculation.
6. Vehicles must have a mass no lighter than 0.5 Kg or 1.1 lbs.
7. Vehicles must be sturdy enough to withstand carrying by other conscientious
students.
8. Vehicles will be tossed off the third floor landing and onto the first floor below. Vehicles must
be built to withstand a collision from any direction.
9. Each team only gets one try.
10. Some simple materials may be provided by the teacher, but almost any material can be used
for the vehicle. No glass or potentially dangerous materials will be allowed. If the judge
feels your vehicle will pose a danger when dropped your vehicle will be disqualified.
11. The judge’s decisions are final.
Egg Drop Lab Report
Directions: Answer the following questions. Answers will not be graded unless they are
descriptive, detailed and in complete sentences.
_______________________________________________
Team Member Name
Period
Team Member Name
Period
STEP I: FINAL DRAFT Sketch your group’s choice for design to prevent the egg
from breaking. NOTE: This sketch should be more accurate and detailed than the sketch in
step 2.
It is best to show a cross section view – if you were to cut the container in half, what
would it look like?
Label all parts & materials of the device.
10 pts.
STEP II: MATERIALS LIST: Make a list of all supplies used in your construction.
Give quantity and measurement data on any supply that it is appropriate.
10 pts.
STEP III: Using bulleted statements to explain why this construction design will
work and/or how it will protect the egg from breaking.
Note: These bullets should explain your thought processes for choosing this design
over others making sure to use physics, engineering, design elements, materials
used, etc…. in your explanation.
10pts
A. Calculate the potential energy of the egg before it falls. PE = mgh
10 pts
m = mass in grams
g = gravity = 9.8 m/s/s
h = height
B. Calculate the speed of the egg right before impact. KE = ½ m v2
10 pts
m = mass in grams
v = velocity
v = height/ time
t= time
C. Calculate the applied force the egg would possess upon impact. m (kg) X 9.8 = ___ N.
10 pts
STEP IV: REFLECTION Each team must answer the following two questions.
Why was the team’s design successful or unsuccessful? Be specific.
10pts
What would you do differently if given the opportunity to re-construct the
device? Why? Be specific.
10pts