Name:
Date:
Block:
Egg Drop Impulse & Momentum Challenge
Objective:
Design and build a protective device that prevents a raw egg from breaking when dropped from a
significant height. This challenge will deepen your understanding of key physics concepts, including
momentum, impulse, and how force and time interact to change an object’s momentum. You’ll
explore how extending the time of impact reduces the force on the egg, applying the impulsemomentum theorem to develop an effective and efficient design solution.
Your Task:
You will create two different prototypes for your egg carrier. Each design must protect a raw egg
from impact damage when dropped and meet the following criteria:
Design Constraints:
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The entire carrier must fit within a 20 cm × 20 cm × 20 cm cube.
It must be easy to open and close, allowing quick access to check the egg before and after the
drop.
Optional: If using a parachute, it must not exceed 1 meter × 1 meter in size.
Materials Available:
The following materials will be available for you to construct your design:
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Straws
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Tape
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Cardboard
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Paper
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Hot glue
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Aluminum foil
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Foam (see note below)
You may use other materials, but they must be brought in from home!
Grading Modifiers:
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+ Bonus: If your design does not use a parachute, you will earn a bonus on your final grade.
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− Penalty: Excessive use of foam will result in a small deduction from your grade. Try to
minimize foam use by relying on thoughtful design!
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Awards will be given in the following categories: Most Creative Design, Lightest Successful
Carrier, and Physicist’s Vote Award (class vote).