Project: Operation Egg Drop

Purpose: You will design a container no larger than a shoebox to protect a raw egg from a fall of 50 – 60 feet onto a hard surface. Anything may be used inside the container to protect the egg. The egg may not be altered in any way. No glue or tape should touch the egg shell.

Materials:

  • raw egg
  • container no larger than a shoe box

(doesn’t have to be a shoe box)

  • materials to protect the egg

Procedure:

  1. You will write up your egg drop containers as an experiment, so remember the steps you go through when assembling your design.
  1. Think about the forces that will act upon the egg and the container.
  1. Brainstorm some ideas for materials that may help to cushion the egg.
  1. Collect the materials you wish to experiment with and build the container.
  1. When your container is finished, you will bring it to school for the official “egg drop”.
  1. The eggs and containers will each be dropped from the same location, one at a time. We will see which container protects the egg the best.
  1. You will comment on your container’s ability to protect the egg, and how this affects what we’ve learned about forces, motion, and the scientific method.

Observations: Your grade on this project will come from the following categories:

Product – What kind of container did you create? Make sure you consider creative and innovative ideas for how to protect this egg. Decorate your container to make it stand out from all the others. Make sure it keeps within the size restrictions! And most importantly, make sure it does what it’s supposed to do!

Progress – Besides the container, you will also submit:

a)A model (design) of your container, created before you start work on your product. The model should include a drawing of what your container will look like, as well as a list of materials that you will use to make it.

b)A1-page initialreflection of how you came up with the design, why you think it will work, and the reasons you think your model is creative and innovative.

c)A 1-page progress reflection as you work on building your container, how well you think you are doing as well as any changes you may have made to your initial design.

d)A1-page final reflection to be completed after your egg drop container has been tested with the rest of the class, describing your overall thoughts about your success on the project.

Presentation – The real test! Does your container actually protect your egg?

Conclusions: There are 5 parts to this project, and each one has their own due date. Make sure you use your time wisely!)

Model /Design– due February 15th, 2010

Initial Reflection – due February 15th, 2010

Progress Reflection – due February 24th, 2010

Egg-Drop Container – due March 3rd, 2010

Final reflection – due March 8th, 2010

The egg-drop containers are due on March 3rd, and they will be tested in class March 3rd, 4th and 5th. You will automatically loose 10% off your grade for every day that any of your project is late. No projects will be accepted past March 8th.