Egg drop experiment design project

[kcasali]

I have to design an egg drop experiment for a teaching project. I'll describe the project and how everything works, then the students have about half an hour to create a container to shelter the egg so that it doesn't break from a fall of about 20 feet. The sticking point is the time limit. I obviously want them to build contraptions that will work, but I don't know what materials to give them for them to build it in that short of a time without making it TOO easy (like giving them a box and cotton balls; they'd know exactly what to do with it, and wouldn't have to work for it at all). Any ideas?

 

[PhotonW/mass]

I had a teacher that did the same project exept he asked us to use our own materials from home. I had a friend who used chopsticks, it failed horribly.

 

[tooth]

I know someone who used put the egg in a plastic peanut butter case, and the peanut butter protected the egg.

 

[gsal]

If you offer only two materials, they will surely know what to do ...the only thing to do...offer them a bunch of things!

cotton
foam
carton box
wire (exo-skeleton)
rubber bands (exo-skeleton suspension system)
bubble wrap
plastic bag (parachute idea)
thread or thin rope (parachute idea)

etc, etc