Building a Vehicle to Withstand 40ft Drop: Egg Drop

[4.19mile]

Homework Statement

Hey, I was wondering what the proper section to post this in, and if it is okay to post it:

I have to do a project that goes something of this sort:

Basically build a vehicle no more than an empty mass of of 50 +/- 5 grams, and drop it from a point of approximately 40 feet or so. It has to be a normal-sized, non-"modified" egg (uncooked, etc). It has to be placed in a sealed plastic bag, and there can be no sort of "cushioning" in the vehicle (such as tissue paper, styrofoam, etc). The vehicle must fall freely from 40 feet. There can also be no parachutes and things like that.

Here is basically all the things I have to do for this:

Process:
* Describe your initial idea, your second idea, and your final product.
* Describe how you tested your ideas and what you learned from each test.
* Estimate the time spent thinking of ideas, collecting materials, building prototypes, testing prototypes, and building your final design idea.
* List materials used

Drawings:
* Make scale drawings of your final vehicle.
* Clearly sketch and label all important parts and components.
* Label all lengths and dimensions.
* Draw the vehicle as seen from the front, side, and top.

Photograph
* Include a clear photograph of your final design.
* Digital photos on paper or processed photos from a lab are both acceptable.
* Attach the picture to your report.

Controlling Vehicle Speed: Kinematics
* Use kinematics equations to analyze the vehicle as it falls and explain how you kept the vehicle from striking the ground at an excessive speed.

Controlling Vehicle Speed: Dynamics (Forces)
* Analyze the forces acting on the vehicle as it falls and use Newton’s Second Law to explain how you kept the vehicle from striking the ground at an excessive speed.

Controlling Vehicle Speed: Energy Conservation
* Use the appropriate equation for the conservation of energy to analyze the vehicle as it falls and explain how you kept the vehicle from striking the ground at an excessive speed. Do not discuss rotational effects in this section.

Controlling Impact with the Ground: Dynamics (Forces)
* Analyze the forces acting on the vehicle as it comes to a stop after striking the ground, and use Newton’s Second Law to explain how you minimized the forces acting on the egg.

Controlling Impact with the Ground: Momentum and Impulse
* Describe the intended collision between the vehicle and the ground, and use the equation for impulse to explain two different ways such a collision minimizes the forces acting on the egg as it comes to a stop after striking the ground.

Controlling Impact with the Ground: Work
* Use the appropriate equation for work to analyze the vehicle as it comes to a stop after striking the ground and explain how you minimized the forces acting on the egg.


Benefits of Rotation
* Describe how you designed the vehicle to rotate as it falls to the ground.
* Research and discuss why it is helpful to do this.
* Research and explain why the vehicle rotates using the torque concept.
* Research and explain how making the vehicle rotate results in a lower speed at impact using the rotational kinetic energy concept.
* Research and explain why a rotating vehicle is more stable using the angular momentum concept.

Homework Equations

Too many to state :P

The Attempt at a Solution

I know that it would be better if the vehicle crumples, etc (because longer time interval = less impulse), any other ideas on what to do for this? I have a few ideas about this as well, was wondering if anyone else did.

 

[ben328i]

well just as a thought
why not make a bottom or 3/4 cast of it out of like fiberglass.
and put like 4 posts around it facing down. and make a shaft and put something in it like oil with a tiny spout at the top and if you could make it fall staight it could be like shocks.

that should help distribute the impact over a broader area

ya didnt finish reading it cause i don't know what all it mean.

but sounds fun
i bett you can figure out a way of slowing its terminal velocity
how big can it be.

what is cushining?

 

[4.19mile]

The weight w/o the egg is 45-55 grams (has to be). Thanks for your suggestion, cushioning is when you put tissues/cotton balls, etc. to break the fall.

 

[ben328i]

still don't know how your supposed to not cushion it.
like anything is cushioning if it crumples. can you use rubber.
i saw this rubber once that when it hit the ground it didn't bounce. you should try that stuff. cause wouldn't hitting the ground and bouncing be worse.

hey post pics of where you are so far.