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.
2Students 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.
3Students 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.
4Students 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.
5Students 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.
6Students 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.
7Students 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.
8Students take the egg drop challenge – After the fall
The stress-absorbing structure survived the fall intact. The egg did not.
9Students 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.
10Students 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.
11Students 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.
12Students 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.
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