Egg Drop Challenge: Solving the Dilemma with Limited Materials

[Hookeo]

Homework Statement

We all know the egg drop, and I am stuck as to what to do with the extreme little amount of materials we are allowed to use. Here they are:

1 regular supermarket egg
5 sheets of printer paper
1m of scotch tape

We are to drop it once from the ceiling of our classroom(about 13 feet) to the tile floor below. My thought was to make a platform for my egg (using 4 sheets of paper) and folding them into it. When i did that, I tested it with a similar weighted rock from 20 feet on the porch on my house, and it fell nearly perfectly to the ground, so that was a success. Well, my next job in that was to fold tiny, tiny pieces of tape into shock absorber type things, I had to use maybe an inch of tape in the entire platform, so i have quite a bit of tape to work with. When i tried that theory, i stumbled into a problem. Apparently scotch tape and egg do not mix. As in when i tilted it to make sure it stayed on, it rolled out and i luckily caught it. Would anyone help me with my dilemma? I do not know why the egg for one won't stick, so two i can not test the drop. Is it due to the egg being cold, or is it due to the structure of the eggs shell or the tapes sticky stuff?

 

[kuruman]

I don't know what it is due to, but I would try different brands of "Scotch" tape and see which sticks better. Masking tape would be a better choice and duct tape even better, but you need to check if these are allowed. I would also make sure that shell is clean. Rubbing it with a bit of alcohol will remove most residues on its surface. Wipe it clean and dry and allow it to reach room temperature before you attempt to stick anything on it to avoid moisture condensation.

 

[tomcue]

I can offer some suggestions to help you solve this dilemma. Firstly, it is important to understand the properties of the materials you are working with. In this case, you have an egg, paper, and scotch tape. Eggs have a hard outer shell and a soft inner membrane, which makes them fragile and prone to breaking when dropped from a height. Paper is a lightweight and flexible material, while scotch tape is sticky and can be used to hold things together.

Based on these properties, here are some possible solutions to your dilemma:

1. Use the paper to create a cushioning layer around the egg. You can crumple the paper into small balls and wrap them around the egg, securing them with tape. This will help absorb the impact of the drop and protect the egg from breaking.

2. Create a protective structure for the egg using the paper and tape. You can use the paper to create a box or cone shape and secure it with tape. Place the egg inside the structure and make sure it is secure. This will provide a buffer between the egg and the floor when it is dropped.

3. Consider using a different type of tape that may have stronger adhesive properties, such as duct tape or masking tape. This may help the egg stick to the structure you have created.

4. Think about the temperature of the egg. Cold temperatures can make the eggshell more brittle and prone to breaking. You can try warming up the egg slightly before the drop to see if it makes a difference.

Overall, it is important to experiment and test different methods to find the best solution. Remember to also consider the safety of those around you when conducting the egg drop challenge. Good luck!