Straw Egg Drop Project
Aim:
In this project, you will build a container which can house one egg as it falls from multiple
heights up to the second floor of Desoto building. In building the container, you should think about
what effect momentum and impulse have on the container and on the egg. Your design must not
include changing the egg in any way (no tape on the egg, no nail polish on the egg, no cooking…I will
provide the final egg!). The only materials you may use are 50 straws and tape (any kind of tape that
is available).
The Egg Drop Contest:
● There will be several drops from various heights. Your egg must survive lower heights to
progress to the highest! We will try a few smaller heights before the drop from the second
floor of Desoto Main. Only those who survive (not leaking) the smaller drops may proceed
to the higher levels. (*A cracked egg is defined as one that is visibly leaking its contents (did
not survive). Hairline fractures are not considered cracks and may go on to a higher level.)
● After each drop, you must be able to quickly open the container to show your egg. Grade
will drop if not able to open quickly!
● Container must be constructed with a hatch or a door so that the egg can be inserted or
withdrawn quickly. The contestant will be required to remove the egg from the container to
show judges that it did not break.
Constraints (Rules):
1. The container can be of any design, but may NOT include ready-made packaging materials (bubble wrap, styrofoam, peanuts, etc.)
2. A raw large egg will be provided.
3. The container must free-fall (no parachutes, nor helium balloons). Device should descend straight down,
Final Project Produced (due Sept.26)- Cornell Notes (include data analysis)
Timeframe: In-class and out-of-class work- Sept. 9th- 26th (2 weeks)
Harris 2014
DHS STEM
Straw Egg Drop Project
Data Analysis (calculations):
a. Record the following for your drops: height and time, and calculate the velocity. Calculate the acceleration using
two of the velocities and their respective times. Be sure to show your work!
m= ________g
h1 (m)
h2 (m)
h3 (m)
time, t (s)
Velocity, v (m/s)
acceleration, a
(m/s2)
b. Use the measured mass and calculated acceleration to determine the force exerted on the structure. Calculate the momentum for the initial
velocity and the momentum for the final velocity. Be sure to show your work!
mass, m (g)
acceleration, a
(m/s2)
Force, F (N)
final velocity,
vf (m/s)
initial Momentum,
p1 (kg m/s)
final velocity,
vf (m/s)
final Momentum,
p2 (kg m/s)
c. Calculate Impulse using both impulse equations. Be sure to show your work!
J= Ft
J= Δp= p2- p1
d. Answer the following question to account for any errors in the analysis.
i. Where your two calculated impusles the same? Why or why not?
Harris 2014
DHS STEM
Straw Egg Drop Project
ii. Why is that some peoples eggs broke even though the force of impact may have been the same as a group that did not break?
Think based about impulse and the relationship between impulse, force and time.
1. Brainstorm via concept mapping
2. Create a goal list with timeframes
3. Research information from various sources (cite sources) and copy information in notebook
6. Design project (revise, revise, revise)
TEAM WEEKLY LOG:
Project Name:
Team Members/ roles:
Task
Harris 2014
Who Is
Responsible
Due
Date
Status
Date
completed
DHS STEM
Straw Egg Drop Project
Harris 2014
DHS STEM