Egg Drop Challenge

In this classic project, our students learned the basics of Newton's laws of motion, they learned how to use the F = m(a) formula to calculate force, and they learned terms like velocity, acceleration, conservation of energy, and distribution of forces.

They were then given recycled materials and asked to design a contraption that would protect an egg from shattering after a 30 foot drop.

In the end, students created slide shows explaining the physical and mathematical principles that informed their design. And an ultimate winner was determined through a formula that awarded points for contraptions that were lighter, used fewer materials, created the longest descent time, landed the egg within a target, and-- of course-- still keep the egg whole.

After iterating and working to apply new concepts, our students went back out for a second day of drops. . . tension ran high as each contraption plummeted towards the earth. Would the eggs survive?!?

Some eggs made it. . . others did not.