Egg drop experiment design project

[kcasali]

I have to design an egg drop experiment for a teaching project. I'll describe the project and how everything works, then the students have about half an hour to create a container to shelter the egg so that it doesn't break from a fall of about 20 feet. The sticking point is the time limit. I obviously want them to build contraptions that will work, but I don't know what materials to give them for them to build it in that short of a time without making it TOO easy (like giving them a box and cotton balls; they'd know exactly what to do with it, and wouldn't have to work for it at all). Any ideas?

 

[PhotonW/mass]

I had a teacher that did the same project exept he asked us to use our own materials from home. I had a friend who used chopsticks, it failed horribly.

 

[tooth]

I know someone who used put the egg in a plastic peanut butter case, and the peanut butter protected the egg.

 

[gsal]

If you offer only two materials, they will surely know what to do ...the only thing to do...offer them a bunch of things!

cotton
foam
carton box
wire (exo-skeleton)
rubber bands (exo-skeleton suspension system)
bubble wrap
plastic bag (parachute idea)
thread or thin rope (parachute idea)

etc, etc

 

[pmacias]

I would suggest that the goal of this egg drop experiment should not be to make it difficult for the students, but rather to encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Instead of limiting the materials, I would suggest providing a variety of materials and allowing the students to choose what they think will work best for them. This will allow for creativity and different approaches to the problem.

Some materials that could be provided are straws, popsicle sticks, rubber bands, paper cups, balloons, and tape. These materials are easily accessible and can be used in different ways to create a protective container for the egg. Additionally, you could provide some basic guidelines or constraints, such as the container cannot exceed a certain size or weight, to add an extra challenge.

Another idea would be to have the students work in pairs or small groups. This will not only encourage teamwork but also allow for sharing of ideas and resources. It may also be helpful to provide some examples or demonstrations of different designs before the students start to give them some inspiration and guidance.

Overall, the key is to create a balance between making the experiment challenging and promoting critical thinking, while also providing enough resources and time for the students to be successful. I wish you and your students all the best in this egg drop experiment design project!