How to Design Egg Drop Projects Online
- 1). Determine the type of forces involved. Before beginning any project, you should look into the scientific principles at play. In the case of an egg drop project, you will want to look into the forces that will be acting on the egg as it falls, and, more importantly, as it hits the ground. Sir Issac Newton's third law of motion, "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction," should be of particular interest. This law suggests that when the egg container strikes the ground, the ground actually pushes back in an equal and opposite force, which will cause the egg to break, or cause the container to bounce.
- 2). Find lightweight materials that provide strength and stability in building a container for the egg. Plastic straws are a good example because they have some structural integrity and at the same time have low mass. Styrofoam cups may also be a good choice, providing more protection, but also more mass.
- 3). Find materials that will help absorb or reduce the impact of the container striking the ground. You will want your egg drop project to bounce after it strikes the ground, gradually dissipating the energy it gained while falling. If it does not get a good bounce, all of the energy will have been used up on impact and the egg will likely break. By allowing for bounce, you will spread the energy release out over time. Rubber bands are a good lightweight material to try. Similarly, slowing the fall of the egg will reduce the force on the egg at impact. This can be accomplished by using a parachute or some other structure that increases air friction and drag.
- 4). Determine the type of structure you want to use. Specifically, use structures that provide strength and stability. In the field of engineering, many times the goal is to create strong structures, such as bridges, that use as few materials as possible. Suspension bridges are a great example. There are certain shapes that provide more integrity than others. Triangles and arches are seen be stronger be because they distribute weight better. In the case of an egg drop project, they will help distribute the energy of the fall.
- 5). Build your container. Using the material you've found, apply structurally sound engineering principles, such as making use of triangles in your design. There are many different options available, but one design could include an outer structure made of straws, arranged in triangular patterns. The actual egg container could be placed in the center of the structure, suspended by rubber bands to absorb the impact from the fall and dissipate energy. Other options include parachutes, wings to create drag, or combinations of different components. Remember, one of the goals is to minimize the amount of mass.
- 6). Test your project. All of your hard work will be for nothing on competition day if you haven't tested it to ensure its effectiveness. Drop your container from increasing heights in order to get a complete picture of how well it will perform. If the egg breaks, don't get discouraged. Analyze the data to determine what went wrong, and use the information to see how you can make improvements.
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