Egg Drop Challenge: Minimize Mass and Avoid Padding

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SUMMARY

The Egg Drop Challenge requires constructing a device to safely drop an egg from a height without using any padding or cushioning materials. Participants have successfully utilized flexible straws, tape, and popsicle sticks to create a lightweight structure that suspends the egg in the center. The design aims to minimize the impulse experienced by the egg upon impact by extending the time of the fall, thereby reducing the force exerted on the egg. Key principles include the relationship between impulse, force, and time, emphasizing the importance of a well-structured contraption.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of impulse and its formula: Impulse = Force x Time
  • Basic knowledge of structural design principles
  • Familiarity with materials such as flexible straws and popsicle sticks
  • Experience in basic physics concepts related to motion and impact
NEXT STEPS
  • Research techniques for optimizing lightweight structures in engineering
  • Explore the physics of impulse and its applications in real-world scenarios
  • Learn about material properties and their impact on structural integrity
  • Investigate design strategies for shock absorption without padding
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for students participating in science competitions, educators teaching physics concepts, and anyone interested in engineering design challenges focused on impact resistance.

Amergirls
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I need to drop an egg off my school bleachers. I can't use any kind if padding, cushining, or packing material. The entire egg may be covered but does not have to be. The contraption also needs to be of the smallest possible mass. Please post any suggestions that you can. Thank you all.
 
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I believe my schools science olympiad team had to do this.

I'm not sure how they did it but they used an assortment of straws tape and popsicle sticks. The egg was suspended in the middle, surrounded by straws that were taped together and the outter frame was made of popsicle sticks.
 
Remember you don't want the egg to break. So you should lower the impulse the egg has with the ground. Impulse= Force x Time.

Try to lower the time the egg hits the ground. flexible straws could help.
 

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