Buzz
Dropping an egg is a classic scientific experiment that can be quite stressful if you've never succeeded before. To drop an egg without breaking it, you need to find ways to minimize the impact force and the effect of the force on the fragile eggshell. The best way to achieve this is by creating a cushion for the egg and altering how it falls and lands. You can also soak the egg in vinegar to soften the shell and enhance its ability to absorb impact. Another method is to wrap the egg in 36 cm toilet paper.--68.114.116.162 00:20, 6 March 2017 (GMT)
Steps
Create a protective cushion for the egg
Use cereal. Wrapping the egg in cereal is a highly effective way to distribute the impact force. For the best results, choose “puffy” cereal instead of flat cereal. Puffy cereal contains enough air and can form a better cushion.
- Wrap the egg in a damp paper towel.
- Place the egg in a plastic bag and surround it with puffy rice cereal.
- Fill four other small bags with the same cereal, but without eggs.
- Place all the bags into a larger zippered bag. Ensure the bag with the egg is in the center, surrounded by the other bags.
Wrap the egg with packaging materials. Packaging materials are specifically designed to protect fragile items from impact and breakage. If you have enough of these materials, you can safeguard a raw egg from cracking even after a strong impact.
- The simplest method is to use durable bubble wrap. Carefully wrap the bubble wrap around the egg 2 to 5 times to create a thick cushion. Secure the ends with rubber bands to prevent the wrap from slipping off the top or bottom.
- If bubble wrap isn’t available, you can use alternatives like foam beads, air pillows, packing paper, cotton, or crumpled newspaper. Line a box, at least 4 to 8 times larger than the egg, with a thick layer of the material. Ensure there’s enough padding to fill half the box. Place the egg in the center of the cushion and gently cover it with more padding. Seal the box with tape before dropping it.
Try using marshmallows or popcorn. These soft and airy foods can serve as alternatives to cereal or packaging materials. The basic idea is to create a cushion around the egg to reduce the force exerted on it upon landing.
- The container itself may not make a huge difference, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Ensure the container is wide enough to allow cushioning around the entire egg, in case it lands on its side instead of the bottom or lid. Also, make sure you have enough marshmallows, popcorn, or similar soft foods to fill the container. Otherwise, the egg might move around inside.
- Marshmallows and popcorn work well because they contain a lot of air. You can also experiment with other soft or airy foods.
- Fill half the container with marshmallows. Place the egg in the center and carefully cover it with more marshmallows. Ensure the container is full but avoid pressing down on the egg when closing the lid.
Submerge the egg in water. You can let the egg float in water when dropping it; the impact force will distribute evenly in the water, minimizing the effect on the egg.
- Place the egg in a sturdy tin, plastic container, or similar vessel. The container should be about 5 times larger than the egg.
- Fill the container with water and add a handful of salt. The egg will float better in saltwater. Ensure the container is completely filled and tightly sealed before dropping.
Change the way the egg falls
Create a "cradle" for the egg. Use pantyhose or tights to suspend the egg in the middle of the box. Pantyhose are soft and elastic. When the box hits the ground, the pantyhose will cause the egg to bounce gently, reducing the sudden stop. This minimizes the force on the eggshell and lowers the chance of cracking.
- Cut a section of pantyhose. Place the egg in the middle of the cut section and secure it with a rubber band.
- Stretch the pantyhose diagonally across the box, from one top corner to the opposite bottom corner. The egg should hang in the center of the box. Use clips or another method to secure the pantyhose.
- Note that the box can be made of almost any material. You can use a cardboard box, plastic container, or even create a frame using metal coat hangers.
Make the bottom of the box heavier. You can place the egg on a cushioned layer inside the box instead of in the center, as long as the box is heavy enough to control its fall direction. The easiest way is to use a rock and a few foam cups.
- Place a heavy rock in one cup. The rock should be heavier than the egg.
- Add six more foam cups on top of the first cup, above the rock.
- Place the egg in the top cup.
- Add another cup above the egg to secure it.
- Use tape to vertically attach the cups together so the container doesn’t come apart during the fall.
- If the rock is heavy enough, the cups containing the egg will fall and land with the rock at the bottom and the egg on top. The foam cups will also act as a protective cushion for the egg.
Create a parachute. If you know how to design a parachute for the egg container, you can reduce the egg’s falling speed. A slower fall means significantly less impact force when it hits the ground, increasing the egg’s chances of survival.
- There are several parachute designs you can try, but one of the easiest materials is a plastic grocery bag. Place the egg in the box with cushioning. Use tape or pins to attach the bag to the top of the box. Ensure the bag’s handles are near the edges to allow enough air to fill the bag as the box falls.
- When dropping the box, make sure the side with the bag faces upward. This will allow air to inflate the bag, slowing the descent.
Change the landing position
Catch the egg with a net. An egg breaks when it hits the ground because the rapid deceleration over a short distance creates significant force. Catching the egg in a net or similar device increases the deceleration time, thereby reducing the impact force.
- If you don’t have a safety net, you can use a piece of fabric instead. Stretch the fabric over stakes at least 30 cm above the ground. When dropping the egg, aim for it to land as close to the center of the fabric as possible.
- Similarly, you can create a cushion instead of a net for the egg to land on. The principle is the same. Line a wide box with a thick layer of bubble wrap or similar packaging material. Ensure the egg lands on the cushion when dropped.
Choose a grassy landing spot. If you can select the landing area, choose grass over concrete sidewalks or parking lots. Grass and soil are naturally softer than concrete and stone, significantly reducing the impact force.
- For even better results, drop the egg after heavy rain when the ground is soft. Avoid dropping it during dry periods, as the ground tends to be much harder then.
Tips
- Combine as many elements as possible when dropping the egg. Reducing the egg’s falling speed while distributing the force with cushioning provides better protection for the fragile shell compared to using just one method. Changing the landing surface further enhances safety.
- If participating in a class project or an official egg drop competition, thoroughly research the rules and adhere to them when designing your technique.
- Drop the egg gently. Hold the egg above the landing surface and let it fall naturally. Avoid throwing it, as this adds extra force and speed, making it more likely to crack upon impact. Higher drops also increase the impact force, raising the risk of cracking without proper cushioning.
What You’ll Need
- 1 raw egg
- Small zippered plastic bag
- Large zippered plastic bag
- Puffed rice cereal
- Nylon pantyhose
- Scissors
- Rubber bands
- Coat hangers
- Box
- Stapler
- Foam cups
- Tape
- A rock
- Durable bubble wrap
- Foam beads
- Air pillows
- Cotton
- Packing paper
- Newspaper
- Marshmallows
- Popcorn
- Plastic grocery bag or similar for a parachute
- Fabric
- Stakes
- Water
- Salt
