The egg-drop science experiment has always been a go-to project for all ages, whether in the classroom or just for fun. This version of the science experiment involves a new challenge to make the students think more creatively: Challenge your class to drop an egg using only recyclable materials to protect it.
In your science project, students may not use plastic or synthetic materials in their designs. That’s right: no tape, styrofoam, straws, or balloons to keep the eggs safe. This twist requires more creativity, encourages recycling, and reinforces environmental awareness.
How does it work?
The goal of this experiment is to drop your egg from a two-story window (or the top of a ladder) and have it survive the fall with no cracks or breaks. How do you prevent damage? Impulse.
Impulse is a change in momentum and in physics and is expressed as: impulse equals force multiplied by impact time.
To reduce your impulse and chances of the egg breaking, aim to reduce either your impact time or force. Or in third- or fourth-grade terms: Make the egg contraption so it lands softly on the ground or rolls/bounces when it hits the ground.
Ways to reduce impulse:
- Cushioning
- Parachutes
- Bounce effect
Examples of designs using recyclable materials
So how do you find a design that works and uses no plastic? During a high school version of this experiment, these different designs produced the same result:
- One student simply stuck her egg in the center of a Charmin ultra strong toilet paper roll and tossed it out the window.
- A second pair of students fashioned a parachute from a used paper shopping bag and tied it to an egg cradle. The cradle was a layer of paper surrounding the egg and tied at the top. Underneath that was a layer of marshmallows, contained by another layer of paper and also tied at the top.
- A third student packed a paper take-out box with marshmallows and slipped her egg into the center.
- Another student designed a paper cone attached to a paper parachute with thin string, with the egg sitting in the middle of the paper-padded cone.
These designs are all made of recyclable material and can safely deliver an egg to the ground. Though the physics behind the matter can be fairly complex, it’s easy to simplify it to fit your class’s age. Everybody has dropped an egg out of a window, but challenge your class to do it using recyclable materials!
Reinforce students’ understanding with a reading selection on energy storage and transfer: Download your free reading comprehension activity here! (From Evan-Moor’s Read and Understand Science Grades 4-6.)
Christine Wooler has experience working with children as a youth soccer coach and summer camp counselor. She is currently studying English Literature and journalism in college. She enjoys exploring educational topics that help students have fun while learning.