I'm in physical science b and we're learning about all this work, force, etc. stuff and i have to do an egg drop. i did that part already, but now i have to explain why air pockets help cushion the egg from recieving the full-on force from hitting the ground...
2007-02-12 10:05:47 · 5 answers · asked by larkaloo 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
my guess is that force can only travel through atoms and not empty space...gases have the most amount of empty space between them, so maybe force can't travel through them as well...
2007-02-12 10:12:37 · update #1
has to do with the force of the egg distributed through the area it hits.
If it hits a air pocket that is 4" diameter the area is 2. x 2. x 3.14 =12.56sq/in for the force to be absorbed into. If the egg weighs 1/8 of a pound that force x the energy generated from the hieght dropped is dispersed to the 12.56 area.
If you jump off a 6 ft ladder to concrete - vs- your bed. The kenetic energy is dispersed to the matris and springs, while the concrete is like an bad relationship - it don't give an inch
2007-02-12 13:22:28 · answer #1 · answered by Pat G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has to do with an idea in physics called impulse. Impulse is the change in momentum over time.
Impulse can be written as m*delta v = F*delta t
then we rearrange it to the form F= m*delta v/delta t
What the air cushion does is change the delta t term. It gives the egg a longer amount of time to slow down, thereby reducing the force acting on it so it doesn't break. The shorter the time the egg has to change it's velocity the larger the force.
Hope this helps!
2007-02-12 18:14:35 · answer #2 · answered by pluto035 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some of the kinetic energy of the falling egg is consumed by the deformation of air pockets - air (like all other gases) is compressible.
or,
the air pockets slows down the egg by applying a force which is direct proportional with the compression rate of the air (it will be greater as the air pocket is compressed)
both are true and there are few more versions of the same thing.
the guys above they are also right, I would choose the 2nd as best answer
2007-02-12 18:28:42 · answer #3 · answered by bily7001 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you drop an egg on hard surface, it gets the impact in a very short period of time, so momentarily the force is very high.
However, if it hits an air cushion, it slows down over a bit of time as it sinks into the cushion. So it doesn't get the whole impact at once.
2007-02-12 18:13:36 · answer #4 · answered by Curt Monash 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
air help cushion objects because air is denser than open space so the object there for must pass thru atoms, think of a pool when you are in one your motions are slower because your mass must pass thru more atoms, so apply that to air and bingo same conclusion.
2007-02-12 18:36:23 · answer #5 · answered by 626m>93' 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋