Dropping an egg is a classic experiment, but it might be a little intimidating if you've never been able to do it successfully. To drop one without breaking it, you need to minimize the impact force and its effects on the delicate shell. The best way to proceed is to cushion the fall by changing the way it falls and touches the surface. You can also soak the egg in vinegar, to make the shell elastic so that it absorbs the impact.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Cushioning and Protecting the Egg
Step 1. Use cereals
Surrounding the egg with grains is a surprisingly effective method of redistributing the force of impact. For best results, use puffed ones (such as rice) instead of flaked ones, as they contain enough air to cushion the fall.
- Wrap the egg in wet kitchen paper.
- Place it inside a small plastic bag and surround it with puffed rice.
- Fill four more identical bags with the same cereal, without adding any eggs.
- Store all bags in another larger, sealable bag; make sure the one with the egg is in the center and well surrounded by the others on all sides.
Step 2. Wrap the egg in packing material
This product is specially designed to protect fragile objects from bumps and falls. If you have enough of it, this material can prevent the egg from breaking even after a bad fall.
- The simplest way to try this solution is to get some sturdy bubble wrap; wrap it carefully around the egg two to five times, creating a thick padding. Secure the ends of the bubble wrap with rubber bands to prevent the egg from sliding off the top or bottom.
- If you don't have this type of material, but you have other similar ones, such as polystyrene chips, inflated plastic bags, wrapping paper, cotton wool or crumpled newspaper sheets, you can use them to cushion the fall. Make a thick layer of your chosen material on the bottom of a box, filling it halfway. Put the egg in the center and then cover it with the same packaging, completing the rest of the container; close and seal the box with adhesive tape before "falling".
Step 3. Experiment with marshmallows or popcorn
You can use these soft, air-filled foods just like puffed rice or packaging material. The basic concept is to surround the egg with a layer of food sufficient to cushion the impact.
- The exact type of container you use isn't necessarily important, but there are some details you need to consider. Make sure it is large enough to cushion the impact on all sides of the egg in case it lands on its side instead of on the base or lid of the box. You should also check that you have put in enough marshmallows, popcorn or similar food to fill the bowl completely; otherwise, the egg can move inside.
- Both marshmallows and popcorns are perfect because they contain a lot of air; you can try other types of food as well, but they should be very soft or very puffy.
- Fill the box halfway with marshmallows. Place the egg in the center and then cover the rest with other sweets, to occupy all the empty space; make sure the container is completely full, but the egg is not under any pressure.
Step 4. Let the egg float
You can keep it in the water during the fall and impact; the force generated by the collision should be distributed evenly through the water and the amount of force reaching the egg should be minimal.
- Place the egg in a can, plastic box, or other sturdy container. this should be five times the size of the egg.
- Fill the rest of the bowl with water and a handful of salt. The egg floats better in salt water than in fresh water; check that the entire container is full of liquid before dropping it.
Part 2 of 3: Changing the Fall Mode
Step 1. Create a "crib"
Suspend the egg in the center of a box or similar container using a pair of nylon stockings or tights; this item of clothing is very elastic and soft. When the container containing the egg touches the floor, the stocking should give way slightly, allowing the egg to stop gradually. As a result, the force exerted on the shell is less, thus reducing the risk of breakage.
- Cut the leg of a pair of nylon stockings, place the egg inside it, at the center point and pin it in place using rubber bands.
- Pull the sock lightly, place it diagonally inside the box, tying one end to an upper corner and the other to the opposite lower corner; at this point, the egg should be in the center of the box. Secure the sock with staples or some other similar method.
- Know that the box can be made with practically any material; it could be cardboard or plastic, or you can build the structure with a metal hanger.
Step 2. Ballast the base of the container
You can place the egg at the top of the cushioned container instead of resting it in the center, as long as you have enough weight to control the direction it falls. The simplest way to proceed is to use a stone and a Styrofoam glass.
- Place a heavy rock at the bottom of a Styrofoam glass; it must be heavier than the egg.
- Place six more glasses inside the base one, stacked on top of the stone.
- Put the egg inside the last glass.
- Gently insert one last glass over the egg to hold it in place.
- Secure it all with tape along the edges, so this "container" does not open during the fall.
- If the stone is heavy enough, it should drop the container with the egg on top and the stone on the bottom; Styrofoam glasses should cushion the impact.
Step 3. Make a parachute
If you can design a parachute for the container that holds the egg, you can reduce the rate of fall. Since the descent occurs at a slower speed, the collision force is much less; a reduced strength results in a higher chance of "survival" for the egg.
- You can find various different models of parachutes, but the simplest material is a plastic grocery bag. Place the egg in the box along with some packaging material of your choice; secure the bag to the top of the container, using tape or staples. Make sure the bag handles are close to the sides of the box so the bag can fill with enough air to slow down.
- When you drop the container, make sure the side on which the parachute is attached is facing up; in this way, the air enters the bag, makes it open and reduces the falling speed.
Part 3 of 3: Changing the Impact Surface
Step 1. Catch the egg on the fly with a net
The egg shatters when dropped to the ground, because the strong deceleration that occurs at a short distance releases a lot of force. Catching the egg on the fly with a sort of retina increases the deceleration time, reducing the impact force.
- If you can't use a real safety net, even a simple sheet is a great alternative; secure it with stakes at least 30 cm from the ground. When you drop the egg, make sure it is in the center of the sheet.
- Similarly, you can provide the egg with a cushioned impact surface instead of a net; the basic principle is always the same. Fill a large box with a thick layer of strong bubble wrap or other similar packaging material; when you drop the egg, make sure it "lands" on the soft material.
Step 2. Choose a grassy area
If you can choose where to drop the egg, opt for a lawn instead of the concrete sidewalk or parking lot. Grass and soil are naturally softer than concrete or stone, the impact force is therefore automatically lower.
For even better results, drop the egg after a heavy shower, as the soil is softer; do not repeat this experiment in periods of drought, because the earth is harder and more compact
Advice
- Simultaneously use multiple techniques to drop the egg without breaking it. By slowing your descent, redistributing forces and cushioning the impact, you can protect the delicate shell more effectively than using just one method; if you can also change the surface on which to drop it, the egg will be even safer.
- If you are participating in a school project or an official "egg fall" competition, carefully check the rules and abide by them regarding execution techniques.
- Drop it gently. Hover it above the surface and then simply release your grip. Do not throw it down, otherwise it increases the impact force and the speed of the fall, increasing the risk of breakage. The height from which it falls increases the force of impact if there is no material to cushion it.
