Egg Drop Calculations Pre-Lab
To make the math easier, let’s say that down is positive. Use a = 9.81 m/s2.
A student drops an egg off of a 5.50 m ledge. The egg has a mass of 0.0500 kg.
1. How long does it take an egg to drop 5.50 m?
2. What is the velocity of the egg just before it crashes on the concrete?
Ignore air resistance. (for vi : What is the velocity of an egg as it’s being held?)
3. What is the momentum of the egg just before it hits the concrete?
p = mvf
4. What is the change in momentum (impulse) while the egg hits the concrete?
(This number will be negative if down is positive.)
Δp = pfinal - pinitial
5. Let’s look at the force on the egg as it is falling.
a. What is the acceleration of the egg during the fall?
b. Then find the force on the egg from gravity?
6. What is the force that the egg experiences during the collision? Find the
force using the Impulse-Momentum Theorem. Time of the collision is
0.0004 s.
7. If the egg has the same change in momentum (impulse), how much time does the collision need to
take to not crack the egg? (Answer from #4 / 24.5 N)