Creative Egg Drop Project Ideas without Restrictions | Homework Help

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion revolves around innovative ideas for an egg drop project with specific constraints, including no kits, no parachutes, and a maximum capsule weight of 200g. Participants suggest various creative solutions such as suspending the egg in non-Newtonian fluid, using bubble wrap, and constructing a protective casing with playing cards and wood. One user successfully tested a design that involved dowels and a sponge, although the egg broke during initial trials. The discussion emphasizes experimentation and adaptation in design to ensure the egg's survival during the drop.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics principles related to force and impact.
  • Familiarity with materials like non-Newtonian fluids and cushioning materials.
  • Basic construction skills for building protective structures.
  • Knowledge of design iteration and testing methods.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research "non-Newtonian fluids" and their applications in impact absorption.
  • Explore "design thinking" methodologies for iterative prototyping.
  • Investigate various "cushioning materials" and their effectiveness in shock absorption.
  • Learn about "aerodynamics" and its role in slowing descent during free fall.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for students, educators, and hobbyists involved in engineering projects, particularly those focused on physics experiments and creative problem-solving in design challenges.

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Homework Statement


So, as you all know, everyone has to do an egg drop project sometime. Well, I got mine today. Yes, I know there are other similar topics, but they all the ones I found had a bunch of restrictions that didn't apply.

Rules:
-Any materials may be used
-no kits
-no balloons/parachute-like-things
-no pillows/stuffed animals
-no egg alterations [ie., soaking in vinegar]
-capsule must have an easy-open hatch
-capsule is no heavier than 200g [*not including the egg*]
-capsule must be smaller than an 8" x 11" sheet of paper on all sides
-egg is in a ziplock bag, in case it dies [recommened]

The Attempt at a Solution


I have a few partial ideas...
-suspend the egg in a box of some sort
-wrap in sponges or bubble wrap
-maybe add wings
 
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So I've got another idea...:
What if i have my egg, put it in a sponge, stick dowels [outward] around the sponge, and put soemthing on the end of the dowels? Would that work?

-edit: Oh, this will be thrown from the second floor of the school.-
 
make helicopter wings like the things that fall off oak trees main thing is to slow it down
 
Boil the egg.
 
jholtz said:
make helicopter wings like the things that fall off oak trees main thing is to slow it down
That's a good idea, except it's literally going to be thrown off the second floor, so the wings wouldn't really have enough time take effect... Thanks anyway.
@inutard: no egg alterations...
 
Any other suggestions...?
-What could i use instead of a sponge?
-What should I put on the end of the dowels?
 
Put some sort of steamlining device on the egg to make sure it stays upright. No need for anything else. You usually cannot break the egg across the ends of its longest length.

Edit: Unless, of course, you are planning to drop it onto cement..
 
...A what? .__.

-edit: oh, yeah...-
 
You chould try suspending the egg in non-Newtonian fluid and then dropping it.
 
  • #10
Like what? jello?
 
  • #11
Cornstarch w/ water.
 
  • #12
1: Fill a big banana skin with water & place the egg in it & let errrr rrrriiiipppppp...

2: Maybe bubble wrap then banana skin?

3: Fill your zip-lock bag with syrup or marmalade or jam.

4: Use chewing gum or tape to stick loads and loads of minature springs to spread the pressure = force per unit area out ;) You'd find them in click pens and the like.

5: Cut an orange 3/4 of the way out, scoop out some of the vitamin c enriched insides and place it inside. I'm sure that would cushion it.

6: Use glue & playing cards to shape a really elaborate outer cube case w/ the egg in the center & use some wood @ each of the 8 corners to hold it in place but don't have the tiny wood as long as the card.

Say, stick two cards together and have the wood about 1/3 the length of the two cards and selotape it into the middle. This will give the contraption a bounce & allow the egg to move around inside without feeling the force acting upwards. The force would spread out. Strange image but I'd make it lol.
 
  • #13
My first idea...

top
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs408.snc3/24667_110251928986676_100000056071692_283623_985944_s.jpg

insert egg here
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs428.snc3/24667_110251932320009_100000056071692_283624_3580314_s.jpg

inside
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs408.snc3/24667_110251935653342_100000056071692_283625_6748601_s.jpg [/URL]
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #14
That looks ok. Tell me how it goes. You might want to search up 'non-Newtonian egg drop' on youtube by the way. I thought it was a pretty neat idea.
 
  • #15
Thanks :D Although I'm not completely done, I tested it off my roof... It worked pretty well, but the egg broke after a couple of throws.
Ok then, I'll check it out when i get a chance.
 
  • #16
The dowels killed the egg, so i fixed it...

top
[PLAIN][PLAIN]http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs448.ash1/24667_110290325649503_100000056071692_284365_8227984_s.jpg

back
[PLAIN][PLAIN]http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs448.ash1/24667_110290325649503_100000056071692_284365_8227984_s.jpg

front
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs408.snc3/24667_110290332316169_100000056071692_284367_6601999_s.jpg

insert egg here
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs428.snc3/24667_110290335649502_100000056071692_284368_2131023_s.jpg

The egg survived!
 
Last edited by a moderator:

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