Egg Drop Blueprint Worksheet Egg Drop Blueprint
Phase 1: Research & Materials
Name: ___________________________
Date: ____________________________
The Physics Briefing
Gravity: The pull of the Earth. Objects accelerate at \( 9.8 \text{ m/s}^2 \).
Acceleration: The increase in speed as the egg falls.
Air Resistance: Upward force that resists the pull of gravity.
Impact Force: The sudden stop that breaks the shell.
Cushioning: Materials that absorb energy and increase impact time.
Momentum: The "unstoppable" force of a moving object.
The Prediction
Based on your understanding of gravity and impact, what is your theory? Will your design survive the drop?
I predict my egg will... because...
1
The Toolkit (Materials)
Sketch and label each material you plan to use (straws, tape, cotton, etc.)
Design Phase: Blueprinting
Engineering Record 02
2
The Blueprint (Structure)
Draw a cross-section of your device. Label the internal padding and the shell.
3
Descent Analysis (Forces)
Draw your device mid-air. Use arrows to show the forces of Gravity and Air Resistance.
Engineering Challenge Question
How does your design increase the Impact Time (the time it takes for the egg to stop moving) to reduce the total force on the egg shell?
Egg Drop Physics Slides THE GREAT EGG DROP
Engineering & Physics Challenge
THE MISSION
Design and build a protective device that prevents an egg from cracking when dropped from 10 feet.
Failure is part of the process!
🥚
TARGET: THE SURVIVOR
Weight Limit: 250g
FORCE #1: GRAVITY
Gravity pulls everything toward the center of the Earth.
ACCELERATION
\( 9.8 \text{ m/s}^2 \)
The longer the egg falls, the faster it goes!
🥚
FORCE #2: DRAG
AIR RESISTANCE
Air molecules push UP against your device.
Larger surface area = More drag
More drag = Slower terminal velocity
🥚
THE MOMENT OF IMPACT
MOMENTUM & FORCE
Force = (Mass × Velocity) / Time
To save the egg, you must increase the TIME of the impact!
More Impact Time = Less Force
Fast Stop = High Force (Crack!)
STRATEGY 1: CUSHIONING
☁️
Soft Stuff
Cotton, foam, or bubble wrap to absorb energy.
📉
Crumple Zones
Structures that collapse to soak up the hit.
🕸️
Suspension
Hanging the egg in the center so it never hits the walls.
STRATEGY 2: AIR RESISTANCE
The larger the "footprint" of your device, the more air it has to push through.
Think about:
• Parachutes
• Streamers
• Wide base plates
YOUR NEXT STEP
Open your Egg Drop Blueprint and complete:
1
The Materials Sketch
2
The Cross-Section Blueprint
3
The Force Arrow Diagram
Egg Drop Teacher Guide Teacher Facilitation Guide
Project: The Great Egg Drop
Grade Level
6-7
Learning Objectives
• Identify and describe the forces of gravity, air resistance, and impact on a falling object.
• Apply engineering design principles to create a protective structure that survives a 10-foot drop.
• Analyze how increasing impact time reduces the force applied to an object.
Recommended Materials (Per Student/Group)
• 20 Plastic Straws
• 1 Roll Masking Tape
• 1 Sheet Cardboard (8.5x11)
• 10 Cotton Balls
• 1 Plastic Trash Bag (for parachute)
• 2ft String / Yarn
• Bubble Wrap (optional)
• 1 Raw Egg (in a sandwich bag)
Safety Briefing
• Always drop eggs over a tarp or plastic sheet.
• Eggs should be placed in Ziploc bags before being built into structures.
• Clean up spills immediately with disinfectant wipes.
Pro-Tip
Encourage students to focus on "Suspension." Keeping the egg away from the walls of the device is often more effective than wrapping it tightly.
Lesson Pacing & Facilitation
01
Introduction (15 mins)
Use the Egg Drop Physics Slides to hook students and explain the physics.
Facilitation Prompt:
"If you dropped a bowling ball and a feather in a vacuum, which hits first? Why is air resistance our best friend in this challenge?"
02
Blueprinting (20 mins)
Distribute the Blueprint Worksheet . Students must have a completed sketch before receiving their materials.
Look-fors:
• Do the arrows in Part 3 show the correct direction of forces?
• Did they account for the "internal" cushioning vs. "external" structure?
03
The Build & Launch (45 mins)
Give students time to iterate. If their design fails early, allow them to "re-engineer" using the remaining time.
Common Student Misconceptions
The "Hard Shell" Myth
Students think a hard, rigid outer shell is best. In reality, a rigid shell transfers all force directly to the egg. Remind them about crumple zones in cars.
