Egg Drop Challenge
Purpose
This challenge lets participants demonstrate their understanding of real-world physics by designing a protective system for an egg. The device must limit impact force, land close to a target, and document the results using video and analysis.
Design Guidelines
You may use safe, accessible household materials such as straws, paper, cotton, balloons, sponges, tape, and rubber bands. Focus on reducing impact force, dispersing energy, and maintaining stability. Material properties to consider:
- Elasticity: Helps absorb energy (rubber bands, sponges)
- Strength: Protects structure (cardboard, popsicle sticks)
- Lightweight: Minimizes momentum (paper, foam)
- Crush zones: Areas designed to deform on impact
Methods (Step-by-Step)
- Sketch your design and select materials based on properties
- Build your device by hand with no commercial egg protection tools
- Test your design from low height; make adjustments
- Record a video of a drop from at least 2 meters (use slow-mo or frame-counting)
- Measure:
- Time of descent
- Impact duration
- Distance from target
- Use observations to calculate scores
- Prepare your report and upload your video
Score Calculation
- Descent Time: Faster times earn higher points
- Impact Duration: Longer durations (energy absorbed) score higher
- Distance from Target: Closer is better (in centimeters)
Lab Report Guidelines (Optional)
Why complete a lab report?
Writing a lab report strengthens your scientific reasoning and documentation skills. It can be submitted to science fairs, used to track and replicate your experiments in the future, and serves as credible evidence for participation in Curious Circuits. It also helps others learn from your approach and fosters better communication in STEM fields.
- Title & Purpose: Explain what you hoped to achieve
- Sketch: Include photo or diagram of your design
- Materials: Full list with justification
- Methods: Your procedure and setup
- Observations: Data and outcome
- Analysis: Connect results to physics concepts
- Conclusion: Evaluate performance, suggest improvements
Resources
FAQ
What if my egg cracks slightly?
Any damage counts as failure. The goal is zero cracks.
Can I reuse the same design multiple times?
Yes, just make sure to record and submit each drop properly.
Watch Instructional Video
Submit Your Project
Submit your name, country, link to video/report, and consent preferences. Top scorers may be featured on our YouTube channel!
Submit