How can I drop an egg from a table that's about 3 feet off of the ground in a 6*6*6 box without breaking it?

Question

I'm doing an extra credit project and it has to do with dropping an egg that in a 6*6*6 dimensional box to the floor from a 3 foot high lab table. Should I put something in the box? What can I do to make it NOT crack?? If it falls from the table and lands on the floor without a crack...it'd be like me getting 25 points higher on a MAJOR test! I NEED this! I, like, bombed this major test and I SERIOUSLY need this A or I will get a C on my report card and I have NEVER gotten a C IN MY LIFE! Honestly. Someone PLEASE help me!

P.S. You can't boil it.

No packing peanuts, foam, floam, bubble wrap, mothing having to do with foamy stuff is allowed.

Answer 1

Think of it as the way designers design the cage of a car. You don't want the impact energy to transfer to the egg's shell in an amount that would shatter that surface. So, try to put something inside the box that will either A) absorb and not trasmit the energy or B) redirect the energy away from the egg and back into the box or cage. Now, that's the engineering way most physics classes do it. I kinda cheated and put the egg inside a big container of vaseline. The gel both absorbed and dispersed the energy preventing it from cracking the egg shell. I also went one step further and chilled the vaseline. I was not disqualified because the rules didn't say I couldn't do that, but also did not win since the whole point of the excercise was to design and construct something. Since I really didn't technically "build" the vaseline or the container, I was told I couldn't technically win the prize. But, I did "prevent the egg shell from cracking or being damaged", so I was not failed either.

Answer 2

This is trick experiment. However, the conclusion you seek is possible but you will have to put forth a lot of effort.

1st Water is not practical: first the what's going to hold it in the box. Second put some eggs in a pot of water "I do know about you but I have never seen a floating egg"

2nd Temperpedic is not a bad idea but do you have that kind of money for a school project and further if you are going to line the box so the egg doesnt roll to the side or the top
"forget about it"

I had this project in elementy school if you get you choich of cushioning devices you should go with something large and round and padded well. so the impact of the drop will be better dispersed. If you have ever jumped from some place real high then you know first hand that shock travels "I'm sure you were not bare foot right?


Makinhg the box work explained.......

if you are to make the box work you have
one find a way to stabilize the egg in the far corner of a box many times it's size.

Next you have to find a way to counter balance the weight of the box so it falls on the other coner.

the box should be packed but not overstuffed
"remeber that shock travels"

And last try to release the box so it lands directly on the corner opposite of the egg.

give it a few trys before the acctual experment to ensure it you have the angle point of release.

good luck

Answer 3

I did a similar project before. If you don't want the egg to break, you will need to break the box when it lands. Let the box absorb the impact instead of the egg.

Break the box and save the egg.

Make sure the box can be easily broken, make it fragile.

Answer 4

Hard boil it and then fill the box with something that will cushion the egg when it lands. Experiment with different things to see what acts as a better cushion. This can be fun.

Answer 5

I did this project once in 7th grade. If I remember right, I filled the whole thing with cotton balls, and then put a thick layer of paper towels down for the egg to nestle in . It worked for me, and i had to drop it from a stairwell! So i'm almost positive it will work for you :) good luck!

Answer 6

can you wrap the egg in bubble wrap? or use packing peanuts?

Maybe you can wrap a million rubber bands around the egg so it'll only bounce around in the box :)

Answer 7

try water,, or oil in the box

or those styropfoam peanut things you get as packing

how about boiling the egg !! thats something most people wont try

- you can always wrap the egg in foam

Answer 8

How about sticking the egg onto inside box by adhesive tape.

Answer 9

Fill the box with water

Answer 10

Get some of the temperpedic foam and line the box with it.