Egg drop

[VP7]

I know this way off topic but...

One of my sons has to do this stupid egg drop thing.
Ya, your thinking big deal everyone does this.

Here is the specs for the drop.

Container: Small as possable.
Mass of container: <125g - egg (egg 50-60g)
Max mass: 125g With egg.
Speed: Fall fast as possable.
Target: Hit and stay. (No bounce or roll)
Target size: 18 x 18 in.
Egg: No damage.
Accessibility: No effort to look @ egg to see if egg is damaged.

New Info:
Teacher will hand out eggs @ the drop time.
Eggs will be warm room temp.
No use of water, jell-o or similar.
Drop of 30 feet onto concrete.

Past limits = Fail

Any ideas ????

 

[4Chan]

YES!

Parachutes!!!!!!

AT LEAST 3 PARACHUTES.

 

[ThePizzaGuy92]

ever tried breaking an egg long ways? it's not easy, maybe that could be used to your advantage?

 

[VP7]

Sorry, I forgot to add target size to list.
Parachutes may drift from target.

 

[DavidWoner]

when I was younger I used a plastic cylindrical container about 5 inches tall and 2 inches in diameter. I packed it with cotton balls, but not too tight(they need to be able to absorb the shock, not transfer it). Then I put it in a small cardboard box filled with packing peanuts (optional). My brother and I were literally kicking the box off of a drop of more than 2 stories and it wasn't breaking. We took the container out of the box and started throwing it around. The egg finally broke when the container hit the ground while spinning end over end and the lid popped off, sending the egg flying in to our fence.

The best thing to do is experiment beforehand, its hard to get the right amount of cotton. I also dont know how the box will affect the weight/bouncing restriction, so its important to get the cylinder right.

edit: Oh yes, I forgot. put the egg in the cylinder longways, and try to drop it longways as well.

 

[zippur]

lots of duct tape

 

[mazei]

lots of duct tape

And how are you suppose to look at the egg afterwards? My school had this thing too. The best was to cover the egg in those plastic straws used for drinking but I think this will bounce. Maybe try making some jelly and put the egg in. And put that in a rectangular box covered with something that can absorb some shock(to stop the bounce and egg breaking).

 

[Ton]

boil it first ,
the specs does not specify the type of egg, so you can choice
boil it first
use a stone egg etc
As specs are not clear you can select one

 

[mazei]

Ton's got a point.

 

[Sa967St]

wrap some rubber bands around the egg

 

[mazei]

wrap some rubber bands around the egg

Wouldn't that cause it to bounce?

 

[VP7]

boil it first ,
the specs does not specify the type of egg, so you can choice
boil it first
use a stone egg etc
As specs are not clear you can select one

Talked to my son about this less the 30 min. ago.
Teacher will hand out eggs @ the drop time.
No chance to boil or freeze.

No use of water, jell-o or similar.

Drop of 30 feet onto concrete.

wrap some rubber bands around the egg

Wouldn't that cause it to bounce?

No, that would be egg guts and rubbers flung everywhere.

 

[(X)]

see-through plastic box filled with plastic foil(used to cover up food etc.)

 

[shelley]

Any restrictions on building materials? When I did this in middle school our containers were to be made of nothing but toothpicks and hot glue.

 

[VP7]

see-through plastic box filled with plastic foil(used to cover up food etc.)

FAIL:
Teacher would have to open box and remove plastic wrap.

Teachers, can't kill'em or pass school without them.

Any restrictions on building materials? When I did this in middle school our containers were to be made of nothing but toothpicks and hot glue.

Common household items only.
So the use of carbon nano-fibers is out.

If a container could be built so that the teacher does not have to open, it's cool then.
If not Fail.

 

[mazei]

Well my straw idea was good at 30 feet. But I'm just unsure about the bouncy-ness of it.

Other Ideas:
Parachute: You could make a parachute that won't go somewhere else. I always do it.

Create some kind of pocket that has a heavy but absorbent bottom.

 

[nitrocan]

ever tried breaking an egg long ways? it's not easy, maybe that could be used to your advantage?

It's almost impossible. I saw four eggs placed perfectly lifting a car on TV.

 

[mazei]

ever tried breaking an egg long ways? it's not easy, maybe that could be used to your advantage?

It's almost impossible. I saw four eggs placed perfectly lifting a car on TV.

Well that's constant pressure. I think if it is falling the force during impact is higher than the amount of the pressure a car can give. I may be wrong. I'm just learning physics this year for the first time.

 

[d4m4s74]

don't put anything on the egg
lay something under the egg to catch it

if that's not allowed, something really bendy

the best way I know in which the teacher can still see it is by strapping some sort of foam on one side of the egg and use fins to stabilize (fins can also be used in combo with parachute)

 

[Leviticus]

ever tried breaking an egg long ways? it's not easy, maybe that could be used to your advantage?

It's almost impossible.

Impossible is nothing.