Does Newtons of an Egg drop vary accordingly to height?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the physics of an egg drop experiment, specifically examining how the height from which an egg is dropped affects the force experienced upon impact. Participants explore concepts related to Newton's laws of motion, momentum, and the conditions under which an egg may or may not break upon hitting the ground.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant applies Newton's second law to the egg drop scenario, noting confusion about why an egg dropped from different heights experiences the same force yet results in different outcomes (breaks or does not break).
  • Another participant explains that while the force acting on the egg during free fall is constant (F=mg), the velocity of the egg increases with height, leading to greater momentum and kinetic energy upon impact.
  • This participant further elaborates that the force experienced upon impact depends on the rate of change of momentum, suggesting that a softer surface could extend the time over which momentum changes, potentially preventing the egg from breaking even from greater heights.
  • A similar point is reiterated by another participant, emphasizing the relationship between height, velocity, momentum, and the impact force.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express similar views regarding the relationship between height, velocity, and impact force, but there is no explicit consensus on the mechanics of the egg drop or the conditions that determine whether the egg breaks.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions regarding the properties of the egg, the surface it impacts, and the precise calculations of forces and momentum changes are not fully explored or defined, leaving room for further discussion.

derfee
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
According to my knowledge, I am able to apply Newton's second law on an egg for an egg drop; the resulted force from that can would be the force which occurs when it hits the ground. That force would also be reflected when it hits the ground according to Newton's third law.

What is confusing me is that the same force occurs to a 2m drop and a 2cm drop; one breaks and one doesn't yet the forces are still the same?

I do not understand.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
When the egg is falling to the Earth there is constant force acting on the egg and the Earth F=mg=const. But as they close together they pick the same momentum each P=mv in different directions so the whole momentum of the system stays 0. So the speed of the egg is increasing. The movement of the Earth is negligible.
If you drop the egg form height of 2 m it will have higher velocity than from 20 cm so bigger momentum and bigger kinetic energy.
When the egg hits the Earth the force with which the egg will act on the Earth will depend on the change of the momentum or in other words on how fast the speed will decrease over time ( F=dP/dt=m dv/dt ).
If the egg fall on something soft the time of change of the momentum will be bigger so the force will be smaller and maybe the egg won't break even from height of 2 m.
 
vlado_skopsko said:
when the egg is falling to the Earth there is constant force acting on the egg and the Earth f=mg=const. But as they close together they pick the same momentum each p=mv in different directions so the whole momentum of the system stays 0. So the speed of the egg is increasing. The movement of the Earth is negligible.
If you drop the egg form height of 2 m it will have higher velocity than from 20 cm so bigger momentum and bigger kinetic energy.
When the egg hits the Earth the force with which the egg will act on the Earth will depend on the change of the momentum or in other words on how fast the speed will decrease over time ( f=dp/dt=m dv/dt ).
If the egg fall on something soft the time of change of the momentum will be bigger so the force will be smaller and maybe the egg won't break even from height of 2 m.

thanks!
 
No problem, I hope I helped a bit :)
 

Similar threads

High School Egg Drop Project: Prepping the Container for a Successful Fall
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
Undergrad Different Equations of Motion for different frames
  • · Replies 64 ·
3
Replies
64
Views
4K
High School Energy changes that result when something drops from a height
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
Undergrad Dropped objects hitting the ground at the same time?
  • · Replies 41 ·
2
Replies
41
Views
8K
High School Egg Drop Project: Honors Physics
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
8K
High School The Great Egg Drop Contest: Design a Protection Device
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
32K
Undergrad Egg drop physics, making a safe landing.
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
15K
How to avoid an egg being cracked when dropped
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Forces involved in egg-drop experiment: 25 Newtons to Break an Egg?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
11K
Undergrad Fragmentation of a drop in a miscible fluid
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K