Students take the egg drop challenge

Students take the egg drop challenge

Students at McLean High School in McLean, Va., prepare to drop a projectile containing a raw egg from the top of the high school football stadium to the cement below.

Students take the egg drop challenge – Balloon test

A package containing an egg drops to the ground below. Balloons were a popular means of absorbing shock because the total weight of the projectile was limited to no more than 160 grams.

Students take the egg drop challenge – Parachute

A parachute made from a plastic bag was pressed into service to slow this container. The egg didnt break, but it missed the target.

Students take the egg drop challenge – Styrofoam sphere

The approach for the styrofoam sphere wasnt to slow the drop, but simply to cushion the egg when it reached the target below. It missed the target.

Students take the egg drop challenge – Andrew Nguyen

Physics student Andrew Nguyen of Herndon, Va., holds the remains of his project, and the broken egg it contains.

Students take the egg drop challenge – Wooden shock absorbers

One idea used by some students was to create shock absorbers using wooden sticks that would absorb energy as they broke under the force of the fall. That didnt work here.

Students take the egg drop challenge – Stress cube

Another approach was to create a stress-absorbing structure around the egg to protect it when it fell. Here it is just before the touchdown, when the egg is still intact.

Students take the egg drop challenge – After the fall

The stress-absorbing structure survived the fall intact. The egg did not.

Students take the egg drop challenge – Jennifer Chen

Student Jennifer Chen created a stress-absorbing structure that used soda straws. It worked perfectly, protecting the egg and hitting near the target.

Students take the egg drop challenge – Helicopter landing

A helicopterlike set of wings and a protective structure whirl gently to the ground, protecting its egg in the black velvet bag. It was impressive and successful.

Students take the egg drop challenge – Angela Lin

Physics student Angela Lin from McLean, Va., shows off her da Vinci-like device after its successful soft landing.

Students take the egg drop challenge – Michelle Choi

Michelle Choi of McLean, Va., created a container that looks like a virus, but it worked like a charm.