Name: ___________________

Mr. Stobbs Conceptual Physics

Exploring Momentum: Egg Drop Project Purpose: To explore concepts of momentum, impulse, and collision by developin a container to lessen the force of impact !hen an e is dropped from a hi h place. Concepts behind Saving the Egg For instance, if you roll an egg along the ground downhill at considerable velocity towards a wall, you can reasonably expect the egg to break. Your arm provided the force (power) to accelerate the egg to a certain velocity (motion). That motion is being increased due to the acceleration of the egg down the hill (gravity). The egg will not drastically vary its direction and avoid the wall (inertia tends to keep it moving in a straight line). The combination of power, gravity, motion and inertia will probably be sufficient to result in an impact between the egg and the wall that breaks the egg. This impact is called the primary impact. There is a further impact which takes place when the egg hits the wall this is when the mass inside the egg impacts against the inside of the wall of the egg. The egg white and egg yolk are usually in li!uid form, and though li!uid has considerable mass, the li!uid inside the egg will rarely be the cause of the egg shell breaking. "f you put a steel ball bearing into a plastic egg, and then shake the egg, you can hear the impact of the ball bearing hitting the inside of the egg, and it is easy to imagine the egg cracking because of the steel ball bearing. The impact resulting from the ball bearing striking the inside of the plastic egg due to the motion or change in motion of the egg is called the secondary impact. #cientists and engineers have been working for many years to reduce the effect of impacts, primarily in the automobile industry. $fforts to reduce the primary impact (energy absorbing bumpers, crumple %ones, modified chassis construction) and efforts to reduce the secondary impact (airbags, padded dashboards, collapsing steering wheels, and seatbelts) are commonplace. &inetic energy is the energy that a body possesses as a result of its motion. 'otential energy is the

Name: ___________________

Mr. Stobbs Conceptual Physics

energy that exists in a body as a result of its position or condition rather than of its motion. "n building the container, you should think about how the energy is converted from potential energy to kinetic energy, and the work done on the container and the work done on the eggs. Container Requirements: "ou may not use any extensions that increase air resistance #parachutes, !in s, streamers, etc$ The e must remain in natural condition #fresh, not hardboiled$, and you cannot alter the e in any manner #paintin , !rappin , tapin , luin , or any other shell reinforcements$. Make an egg case using any materials of your choosing. Your container may not be larger than 5 inches by 5 inches by 5 inches, and cannot weigh more than 1 lb. All other restrictions above apply.

Report (Individual): %. &escribe the ' &rop pro(ect and purpose. ). &escribe your e case * include a detailed dra!in !+ features labeled ,. -hat is momentum. /. -hat is impulse. 0. 1ecause of !hat you 2no! about momentum and impulse, ho! can you lessen the force of impact #stoppin force$ on the e . 3. 4eflect on your desi n as an en ineer !ould. 5o! could you improve your desi n. -hat ne! desi n or materials !ould you try in the future. 6. 7ive one example of ho! !hat you learned in this pro(ect applies to a real life situation. &escribe the scenario and ho! the principles of momentum and impulse !or2 in that situation.

Name: ___________________

Mr. Stobbs Conceptual Physics

Grading Ru ric Container Construction: Turned in on time and complete Made of acceptable materials Made of acceptable 8uantities of materials No air resistance devices __________ __________ __________ __________
Points for Container: _______ + )9

Condition of ' :
9 pts : pro(ectile yo2e streams at time of impact; explosive impact; e violates rules % pt : complete and utter destruction of e , !ith yol2 exposed and shards of shell separated from e ) pts : lea2a e of a lar e amount of e !hite, or small amounts of yol2 / pts : small or lar er crac2s in e , !ith lea2a e of small amount of e !hite only 3 pts : hairline fracture crac2s in e Points for < pts : e shell has no crac2s !hatsoever ' &rop:

=) points for bein brave enou h to participate>

_______ + %9

4eport: ?n time #0$ &escription of pro(ect * purpose #0$ &escription of e case includin reasonin for each feature used #0$ 'xplanation of momentum #0$ 'xplanation of impulse #0$ 'xplanation of ho! to lessen the force of impact #stoppin force$ #%9$ 4eflection on desi n * methods, ideas for improvement #%9$ 4eal life scenario #0$

__________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________

Points for 4eport: _______ + 09