Newton’s third law states that for every action there is a opposite and equal reaction. Our egg drop project demonstrates this by there being a simultaneous reaction but in the opposite direction, so when you drop the egg and it lands, an upward force will act on it.
Table of Contents
What is the physics behind the egg drop?
The cup drop illustrates the transfer of potential energy to kinetic energy. The potential energy from the eggs transfers into kinetic energy after an outside force (gravity) acts upon the egg.
How does Newton’s 1st law apply to egg drop?

How is energy transferred in an egg drop?
An egg raised above the ground has potential energy due to the force of gravity. When dropped, the egg’s potential energy is converted into the kinetic energy of motion.
What physics principle is used to make a surviving egg drop project?
Inertia. Newton’s Laws of Motion are the basic principles illustrated in the egg drop experiment. Sir Isaac Newton published his Laws of Motion in 1687 and fundamentally altered scientists’ understanding of the world by describing the relationship between force and motion.
How do you drop an egg without breaking it physics?

How does Newton’s second law relate to egg drop?
This law means that if the forces acting on a falling egg are equal, it will remain in its current state of motion. If a force greater than those acting on the egg is applied, it will accelerate.
What are the two forces acting on the egg as it falls?
A falling object (egg) has a downward force acting on it due to gravity. Air resistance acting on the falling egg results in an upward force, and these 2 forces oppose each other.
How does gravity affect the egg drop project?
Gravity causes an object to fall to Earth when dropped. Drop an egg from eye level so that it breaks. When the egg hits the ground with a given force, the ground exerts the same force back on the egg. The faster the egg falls, the greater this force is.
How does inertia affect an egg drop?
It’s all about Inertia! Inertia says an object, the egg in this case, will stay at rest, unless an outside force acts upon it, your hand in this case. When you move the pie pan with your hand, gravity takes over and pulls the egg straight down into the glass of water.
What is the purpose of an egg drop project?
Purpose: To explore concepts of momentum and collision by developing a container to lessen the force of impact when an egg is dropped from a high place.
What do you need for an egg drop experiment?
- Raw egg, or other payload that needs protecting.
- Container, like a cardboard tube, cup, box, etc.
- External protection materials, like balloons, rubber bands, craft sticks, straws, etc.
- Internal padding, like fabric, packing materials, paper, etc.
- Pen or pencil.
- Paper.
- Tape.
- Scissors.
What makes an egg drop successful?
Ensure that you have enough padding in the box to cover the egg evenly on all sides. When the box hits the ground, the force will cause the box to crush, which absorbs much of the shock of the fall. The force is also evenly distributed throughout and absorbed by the cushioning material.
Why does an egg not break when dropped on grass momentum?
When the egg hits the ground the forces of the impact are distributed around the shell so it does not break.
Where is the strongest part of an egg?
The egg is strongest at the top and the bottom (or at the highest point of the arch), which is why it does not break when pressure is added to both ends. The curved form of the shell also distributes pressure evenly all over the shell rather than concentrating it at any one point.
What materials can stop an egg from breaking?
Foam from an old cushion, cotton balls, cotton batting, stuffing, bubble wrap, old rags, toilet paper or paper towels can be used for the first, dense cushioning layer closest to the egg.
How does the concepts of impulse and momentum apply to an egg drop experiment?

How much force does it take to break an egg vertically?
The average load to break the eggs when standing up was 53 Lbs. On their side, an average of 90 Lbs was required. This makes sense because eggs are flatter on their side, which allows more of the platen/foam to contact the shell, helping distribute the force across a larger area.
How much force can an egg withstand when dropped?
Putting all of it together into the equation F=m*(dv/t), the force to break the egg is 24.5 N, or around 5.5 lbs. Answer 4: When you drop the egg, it accelerates due to gravity. This means that the force of gravity pulling on the egg will cause the egg to go faster.
What is the velocity of an egg falling?
What is the speed of gravity; how fast would an unprotected egg fall? Gravity is the force that attracts mass towards the center of the earth or other large planetary body. The speed of gravity is about 9.8 meters per second. An unprotected egg would fall at about 10.93 meters per second.
What is the law of inertia in physics?
1. Newton’s First Law of Motion (Inertia) An object at rest remains at rest, and an object in motion remains in motion at constant speed and in a straight line unless acted on by an unbalanced force.
What is the best material for an egg parachute?
Materials: Plastic heavy-duty trash bag. Plastic sandwich bags. String.
How do eggs not break project?
To drop an egg without breaking it, wrap the egg in wet paper towels and place it in a plastic bag of puff rice cereal. Fill 4 small bags with puffed cereal too, then put all the bags into 1 large container. You can also wrap the egg in packing material, like bubble wrap, packing peanuts, or inflated plastic packets.
Why are straws good for egg drop?
The key idea of a successful straw structure for egg drop project, from physics point of view, is to find a design that the straw will divert or absorb most of the forces, thus little force goes to the egg.
Is momentum conserved in an egg drop?
The Vehicle increases the amount of time that the force of gravity is acting on the egg. The impulse equals the change in momentum so the only way to reduce it, is to reduce the initial momentum = mv because in the end it will be stop by floor and have zero momentum there. Conservation of momentum equals mv=mv.