Name: _______________________________________________
Date Due: _Egg Protection Device due: February 3, 2016___
Due Date: Written Lab Report due by February 5, 2016_
Class work days: __Thursday January 28 and Friday January 29 __
Operation Humpty Dumpty
Students shall design and build an egg protection device that will prevent an uncooked and unmodified
chicken egg (Grade A Large, to be supplied prior to the drop) from breaking when dropped from an
initial height of 3 meters.
The egg drop project involves several physics concepts that we will have studied in class and other
concepts that you will have to research. The main concepts are:
1. Momentum
Momentum is a measure of an object's tendency to move at constant speed along a straight path.
Momentum depends on speed and mass. Within a closed system of interacting objects, the total
momentum of that system does not change value. This allows one to calculate and predict the outcomes
when objects bounce into one another.
When an object is moving, it has a non-zero momentum. If an object is standing still, then its momentum
is zero. To calculate the momentum of a moving object multiply the mass of the object times its velocity.
Momentum is a vector, which means that momentum is a quantity that has a magnitude, or size, and a
direction.
2. Pressure
Pressure is the force per unit area applied to an object in a direction perpendicular to the surface.
Pressure is calculated by taking the total force and dividing it by the area over which the force acts. Force
and pressure are related but different concepts. A very small pressure, if applied to a large area, can
produce a large total force.
3. Air Resistance
A feather and coin will fall with equal accelerations in a vacuum, but unequally in the presence of air. This
is because the air molecules cause a frictional force that opposes the motion of the falling objects. This
air resistance diminishes the net forces for each. This will be a tiny bit for the coin and very much for the
feather. The downward acceleration for the feather is very brief, for the air resistance very quickly builds
up to counteract its tiny weight and surface area. The feather does not have to fall very long or very fast
for this to happen. When the air resistance of the feather equals the weight of the feather, the net force is
zero and no further acceleration occurs.
4. Angular Momentum
Angular momentum measures an object's tendency to continue to spin. It can be obtained by multiplying
the mass of an orbiting body by its velocity and the radius of its orbit. According to the conservation laws
of physics, the angular momentum of any orbiting body must remain constant at all points in the orbit, i.e.,
it cannot be created or destroyed. If the orbit is elliptical the radius will vary. Since the mass is constant,
the velocity changes. A spinning body also possesses spin angular momentum.
5. Gravity
Gravity is a powerful force that has a fundamental impact on the way we live our lives. Even walking,
which we take for granted, is not possible without gravity. Gravity provides the necessary downward force
on our bodies which creates friction between our feet and the ground, allowing us to walk (push our body
weight forward with one leg and then the other). When other forces are combined with gravity, such as
motion (the movement of an object), inertia (the tendency of an object to resist change with regard to
movement based on its mass), or power (the ability to exert energy over time), it may be impossible to
prevent an impact which will cause damage.
Concepts behind Saving the Egg
If you roll an egg along the ground downhill at considerable velocity towards a wall, you can reasonably
expect the egg to break. Your arm provided the force (power) to accelerate the egg to a certain velocity
(motion). That motion is being increased due to the acceleration of the egg down the hill (gravity). The
egg will not drastically vary its direction and avoid the wall (inertia tends to keep it moving in a straight
line). The combination of power, gravity, motion and inertia will probably be sufficient to result in an
impact between the egg and the wall that breaks the egg. This impact is called the primary impact. There
is a further impact which takes place when the egg hits the wall; this is when the mass inside the egg
impacts against the inside of the wall of the egg. The egg white and egg yolk are usually in liquid form,
and though liquid has considerable mass, the liquid inside the egg will rarely be the cause of the egg shell
breaking. If you put a steel ball bearing into a plastic egg, and then shake the egg, you can hear the
impact of the ball bearing hitting the inside of the egg, and it is easy to imagine the egg cracking because
of the steel ball bearing. The impact resulting from the ball bearing striking the inside of the plastic egg
due to the motion or change in motion of the egg is called the secondary impact. Scientists and engineers
have been working for many years to reduce the effect of impacts, primarily in the automobile industry.
Efforts to reduce the primary impact (energy absorbing bumpers, crumple zones, modified chassis
construction) and efforts to reduce the secondary impact (airbags, padded dashboards, collapsing
steering wheels, and seatbelts) are commonplace. Kinetic energy is the energy that a body possesses as
a result of its motion. Potential energy is the energy that exists in a body as a result of its position or
condition rather than of its motion.
In building the container, you should think about how the energy is converted from potential energy to
kinetic energy, and the work done on the container and the work done on the eggs.
Lab Activity Instructions:
Students will design and construct an egg protective device. You will be given only one raw egg and
limited to materials to choose from that you supply.
Materials:
You can choose 12 items/materials from the following list:
Cardboard, 5 elastic bands, 8 popsicle sticks, 2 sponges , 2 sheets of construction paper, plastic bag, 20
bendy straws, Styrofoam cup, poster board, 6 cotton pads, Q-tips, 1 pair of socks, toilet paper, 30cm
string, 10cm wires, spaghetti, 2 balloons, 1 paper plate, 5 pieces of tissue paper, 2 sheets of plastic wrap,
5-10 cotton balls, Toothpicks- up to 20, Paper – 5 (8 ½” x 11”) sheets (normal computer paper size) 2
sheets of aluminum foil (8 ½” x 11”) , newspaper, 2 Ziplock bags, glue, Tape – up to 3 feet (1” masking
or gum paper tape. You may bring in a “fake” plastic egg to help with design purposes. Brown paper bag
or plastic bag to hold materials
These materials are provided:
scissors, rulers, Egg – one large egg per group.
Procedure:
Phase 1: The Design
When you are designing this apparatus, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind. This device
must be protective. The raw egg inside must not even crack.
Phase Two: Testing
Request practice runs to make sure that your apparatus will withstand the drop height. The project takes
much trial and error and it is highly doubtful that you will succeed in your design on the first trial. You will
most likely have to modify your current design or start completely over and design a new apparatus.
Phase Three: Actual Drop
Raw eggs are provided at the drop site. The student should bring a small repair kit for egg drop
apparatus, (i.e. tape, scissors, and left-over materials provided etc). Be fully prepared and bring all items
to the drop site.
Hints:
Use light and strong materials
Use simplified apparatuses
Bring a repair kit to the drop site
Don't overcomplicate the design
Don't use heavy materials if at all possible
Specifications:
➢ No parachutes are allowed
➢ An area approximately the size of a quarter of the egg must be visible at all times.
➢ Only the allowed materials may be used (listed above).
➢ Only raw, store bought chicken eggs may be used. Your design must not include changing the egg in
any way (no tape on the egg, no soaking the egg in vinegar).
➢ The egg container and all materials must remain intact. For example, no parts – inside or out - can fall
or break off during flight or impact.
➢ Your egg project must fit on a regular size (8 ½ x 11) sheet of paper. (Note that the height of the
container is not a factor – it can be “tall” and still fit on the paper)
➢ Your container must not weigh more than 2 kg.
➢ The container must be able to be opened once we return to the classroom so that we may check on
the condition of the egg. The inside materials must be designed to allow raw egg to be easily inserted and
removed.
Expected Outcome:
The most ideal outcome is that the egg will remain unbroken when dropped from a predetermined height
inside the protective device, or the egg can withstand a height greater than the one specified for the
experiment.
You will be graded on the success of your design. Eggs that do not break will receive the most points.
Eggs that show small cracks will receive partial credit. Eggs that break will not earn points for this part of
the project grade.
This project is worth 2 grades: a major grade and a daily grade.
Extensions and connections:
What are the forces acting on the egg as it falls?
How can you control the forces that cause the egg to break?
Was the material, the amount of it, or its compression factor that was the key?
What are the common characteristics of the material that protected some eggs?
Did the layering of materials play a role in protection?
What about your design made the egg break? Not break?
How would you design your container differently next time?
Project Humpty Dumpty Egg Drop
Expected Outcome:
The most ideal outcome is that the egg will remain unbroken when dropped from a predetermined height
inside the protective device, or the egg can withstand a height greater than the one specified for the
experiment.
You will be graded on the success of your design. Eggs that do not break will receive the most points.
Eggs that show small cracks will receive partial credit. Eggs that break will not earn points for this part of
the project grade.
Goal
Design and build a container that will protect delicate cargo (an egg) under stressful landing and
accident conditions.
Key Question
Based on the fragility of an egg, what materials and design concepts need to be considered to
protect an egg during a drop from over 3 m?
Preparation
Collect possible materials
Construct a container to protect the egg from a fall of over 3 m.
Required Materials
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Egg (provided by teacher)
Measuring tape
Stopwatch
Container to protect egg
Construction
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The device must be of original design.
It can be constructed of any material that the team feels appropriate and can obtain, including
material recycled from other products.
Upon the initial release of the device, it must be able to fit within a 12" cube. Once the device is
released, it may take any shape or size.
There will be no physical contact with the device once it has been released.
The egg must be put into the design on the day of the competition. The design must allow for
easy opening and inspection of the egg. Opening and closing of the packages will be
accomplished in the same period of time for all students (2 minutes).
Repairs requiring additional materials will not be allowed once the drop has begun.
No glass containers.
Be prepared to clean up any mess, if necessary.
Scoring
This project is worth 2 grades: a major grade and a daily grade.
This project is worth a total of 100 points/grading category.
Criterion
Possible Points
Point Breakdown
Instructor Pre-drop Analysis
35
20 – well constructed, little last-minute
work
Student construction of
protective device
10– appears to have been completed at
the last minute/evening
5 – looks poor
Condition of egg, post-drop
35
20 – completely unbroken
10 – egg has hairline cracks
5 – egg is noticeably broken/completely
smashed
Post-drop Analysis
Writing component
30
15 – description of components
success/failure
5 – grammar and proof-reading
5 labeled diagram/photo
5– evaluation of peers’ successful and
unsuccessful designs
Written Components
Post Drop Analysis
Your written post-drop analysis lab report should evaluate your success/failure. What
components of your protective device did or did not perform as you expected? Identify these
components. This should all fit on one page
You must turn in a well-written analysis that discusses how your device worked that included
the required information. The written report should be no more than 2 pages. A labeled
diagram/photo of your device and data table is also required with your post-drop written
analysis. Your labeled diagram should include the following: key components, materials labeled
and named, and approximate dimensions. (Metric system units only.) Your data table
should be easily and quickly interpreted and include: equations used and appropriate units for
measurements and/or calculations.
Lab Report:
Required Information to be included in Egg Drop written lab report
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Mass of container plus egg (in kg)
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Weight of container plus egg (in N)
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Acceleration of container during its fall (in m/s2)
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Final velocity of the container immediately before impact (in m/s)
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Time of fall (in s)
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Force of impact (in N)
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Potential energy of container plus egg immediately before release (in J)
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Kinetic energy of container plus egg immediately before impact (in J)
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Momentum of the container plus the egg upon impact (in kg m/s)
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Written section explaining how Newton’s Three Laws of Motion relate to the egg drop project.
What about your design made the egg break? Not break?
How would you design your container differently next time?
Was the material, the amount of it, or its compression factor that was the key?
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Questions to Think About
Should your container be made rigid; or is it better if it collapses?
Should the egg be able to move, or should it be held immobile?
What types of materials or structures will absorb the shock of an impact?
What types of materials will contain the egg if it breaks?
What are the forces acting on the egg as it falls?
How can you control the forces that cause the egg to break?
Does the layering of materials play a role in protection?
How can it be designed to withstand multiple drops from successively greater heights?
Extensions and connections:
What are the forces acting on the egg as it falls?
How can you control the forces that cause the egg to break?
Was the material, the amount of it, or its compression factor that was the key?
What are the common characteristics of the material that protected some eggs?
Did the layering of materials play a role in protection?
Science Department Lab Report Format
General Information:
12 pt Times New Roman font
Double Spaced
1 inch margins
Always write in third person
Write in Full Sentences except for the materials list
Each class must write at least one Formal Lab Report
Each lab report should equal 100 points (approx one test grade)
Important Reminders for a Lab Report
Check Spelling
Use Significant figures and units regarding measurements and calculations
Avoid personal pronouns
Headings should stand out and each section should be separated by 1 line
Neatness counts -> use rulers when needed (especially when using tables and
graphs), type if possible
Do not copy verbatim (word for word) from the lab handout or any other source.
This is plagiarism and would result in a zero mark and possible further
consequences.
Title- Heading, Name, Name of Partners, Class Name, Teacher Name, Date Lab
Report
Introductory Paragraph – This section should be written in complete sentences and
should connect lab concepts to class content. The introduction should provide
background information on the history of the concepts tested, scientists, theories, and
any laws tested in the experiment. Cite Sources Used. The introduction should contain
any prior knowledge on which the experiment is based including an explanation of
principles, definitions, experimental techniques, theories and laws.
State Problem / Purpose The objective is a concise statement in complete sentences
Out lining the purpose of the experiment. The purpose section of a lab is where you tell
the reader your reason for doing the lab in the first place and briefly summarize any
relevant background information about the experiment, including any relevant chemical
equations
Hypothesis: Possible if____ then_____ statement. Define any variables such as
manipulated, measured, controls and the cause and effect predicted. The hypothesis is
a one-line sentence where you discuss how you’ll solve the problem at hand. The
statement after “if” is the independent variable. The independent variable is whatever
you will do to solve the problem. The statement after “then” is the dependent variable,
because what happens will depend on what you did in the first place. Generally, the
dependent variable will be the problem you mentioned in the purpose.
Materials: (Bulleted List) The materials section is a list of all equipment, reagents
(chemicals), and computer programs that were used to complete the experiment.
Drawings of the apparatus setup should be included in this section if needed. The
materials list must be complete. Indicate how much of each material will be used in the
experiment. If you plan on arranging some of the equipment into a more complex setup
(for example, if you are going to heat something over a Bunsen burner, you will need a
ring stand, wire gauze, etc.), draw it as well as mention the equipment used.
Procedure: This section may be written in either paragraphs or numbered steps.
Explain the test design, and allow for pictures and diagrams. The procedure is a
detailed statement (step by step) of how the experiment was performed such that the
experiment could be repeated using your report. Safety precautions that were followed
should be stated in this section. The procedure must be written in the impersonal (3rd
person) past tense:
e.g. We are taking the temperature every 2 minutes. NO
The temperature was taken every 2 minutes. YES
Data / Results / Observations: This is a collection of observations, measurements,
multiple trials, data tables, charts, and repeating steps. This section may consist of
quantitative and/or qualitative observations of the experiment. A qualitative piece of data
is a written description and/or sketch of what was seen during the experiment.
Quantitative information may be in the form of a table or simply a written description.
When graphs are required, special attention should be paid to the following items: the
type of graph expected (straight line or curve), utilizing the entire graph paper, plotted
point size, title of the graph, and axis labels. When numerous measurements have
occurred, data is to be placed in a data table whenever possible. Figure headings are
placed below the figure and should give a short description of the figure. The figure
number should be in bold print. Table headings are found above the table and should
also have a brief description.
Analysis / Calculations: Graphs, Error Calculations, Equations, Statistical Analysis One example of each type of calculation should be included. Results from numerous
calculations should be placed in a data table with the proper number of significant
figures and correct units. % yield and % error calculations should be included when
possible.
Lab Report Rubric
Checklist
Statement
My lab report includes the title, problem/question, hypothesis, materials, and
procedure)
I have recorded all data for the lab in charts (including the times for each drop)
I have calculated the final velocity of each object from each height
I have calculated the momentum and impact force for the highest height my egg
survived
I have answered ALL of the questions to complete my conclusion in paragraph
form
I have answered ALL of the questions to complete the discussion in paragraph
form
I have cited my work using in text citations for ideas that are not my own and
included a works cited page.
I have typed the final lab report or have hand written report in a legible manner
Completed