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26 Egg-cellent Egg Drop Challenge Ideas

Teaching STEM one broken egg at a time.

The egg drop may be the most versatile activity there is. It can be done in kindergarten to teach about gravity, in middle school to teach engineering, and in high school physics. (We’ve even done the egg drop in professional development as a team-building activity). These 26 egg drop ideas take the challenge far beyond basic.

1. Disaster egg drop

Have students imagine that they are trying to deliver eggs to people who have been in a disaster. They must use contents from care packages to pack and try to deliver their eggs. The focus of this egg drop is on the change from potential to kinetic energy and how energy moves when it impacts the ground.

Try it: Care Package Egg Drop at Teach Engineering

2. Parachute egg drop

Looking for tried-and-true ideas for the parachute egg drop method? Give students a variety of materials—straws, Popsicle sticks, paper, bags—and see who can make a parachute that helps the egg float instead of splat.

Try it: Egg Parachutes at JDaniels4mom.com

3. Humpty Dumpty drop

First, decorate an egg like Humpty Dumpty (smiley face, overalls). Then, fill baggies with different materials like water beads, sand, pasta, and cotton balls. Drop Humpty in and see which material protects him the best.

Try it: Humpty Dumpty Drop at I Heart Crafty Things

4. Hot-air balloon egg drop

Connect a “basket” to a balloon with yarn and see whether or not the balloon will float gently enough so the egg doesn’t break. You may try this in different types of weather to see what happens to the balloon and egg when it’s windy or not.

Try it: Gravity Drop at Science Sparks

5. Crash cart egg race

In this version of an egg drop, build a cart for an egg, then send each egg down a ramp or course to see if the cart will protect the egg.

6. Cereal egg drop

Another lesson in how energy gets absorbed. Place an egg in a can, and surround the can with a soft cereal, like puffed rice.

Try it: Cereal Egg Drop on Pinterest

7. Dodecahedron egg drop

Create a dodecahedron out of straws, place an egg in the middle, and drop it. Will the straw structure protect the egg enough for it not to break? Bonus: Students learn about geometry and dodecahedrons.

Try it: Straw Egg Drop at Sciencing

8. Styrofoam cup egg drop

Use Styrofoam cups to create a stack around the egg. Place a heavy rock in the bottom of the first cup (the rock should be heavier than the egg). Then, put six more cups on top, put the egg into the seventh cup, and cover the stack with the eighth. Tape the stack together and drop.

Try it: Styrofoam Egg Drop at Educational Insights

9. Rubber band suspension egg drop

Suspend an egg using rubber bands and pantyhose for protection. Will the egg bounce and wiggle or crack on impact?

10. Paper straws egg drop

Sometimes having limited materials brings out students’ creativity. Give students nothing but an egg, paper, and scissors, and see what they can come up with.

Try it: Paper Egg Drop at iGameMom

11. Pringles can egg drop

A Pringles can is the perfect size and shape to protect an egg. Use cushioning and pencils to hold the egg in place.

12. Sponge egg drop

Cut a hole in the middle of a sponge and fit the egg into the hole. Then, use straws and tape to secure the egg and see if the sponge will soften the blow.

Try it: Sponge Egg Drop at Green Kid Crafts

13. Paper bag parachute

Looking for more ideas that incorporate parachutes in your egg drop challenge? Place the egg in a red Solo cup with some cushioning (shredded paper, cotton). Then, attach a plastic bag to the cup and launch it in a place where the wind can catch the bag.

Try it: Plastic Bag Parachute Egg Drop at There’s Just One Mommy

14. Toilet paper and duct tape egg drop

Tuck an egg into a roll of toilet paper, pack with cotton balls, and cover with duct tape. You could use this strategy to drop the egg, or roll it down an obstacle course.

15. Oobleck-wrapped egg challenge

For a mult-step approach, make oobleck and cover the egg in oobleck. Then, put the egg in a cup that includes a soft packing material (mini-marshmallows, cotton balls). Cover the top with plastic wrap or tape and get ready to drop.

16. Ship egg drop

Give students a collection of materials and challenge them to make ships to protect their eggs. Some materials:

• Popsicle sticks or tongue depressors
• Rubber bands
• Pipe cleaners
• Cotton balls
• Sandwich bags

Try it: Ship Egg Drop at Cool Science Dad

17. Pool noodle egg drop

What can’t you do with pool noodles? Cut pool noodles into parts and use duct tape, rubber bands, and other materials to create soft, spongy pods for eggs.

Try it: Pool Noodle Egg Drop at Steam Powered Family

18. Toilet paper roll egg drop

Use toilet paper rolls as pillars to support and protect an egg, then use a sponge and rubber bands to hold it together. The big question with this egg drop is whether it will float down or crash.

Try it: Toilet Paper Egg Drop at Science Struck

19. Water bag egg drop

What happens if you put eggs in a bag full of water? Have students hypothesize whether the eggs will break based on how much water is in the bag.

Try it: Water Bag Egg Drop at Oregon State University

20. Reinforcement egg drop

Talk about what it means to reinforce an object, then provide students with different ways to reinforce an egg in boxes or jars (or jars and boxes).

Try it: Reinforcement Egg Drop at Living Digitally

21. Floam-covered egg

Cover an egg in floam and see if it provides enough cushioning to break the fall. If you don’t have floam, you can also try kinetic sand, play dough, or anything that will cover the egg and absorb the impact.

Try it: Floam Egg Drop at Momtastic

22. Peanut butter jar egg drop

Tuck an egg in a peanut butter jar, pack it with tissues, and secure in a box.

Try it: Peanut Butter Jar Egg Drop at Momtastic

23. Balloon bomb egg drop

Surround the egg in balloons filled with beads to provide a softer landing.

24. Another balloon bomb

Hollow out a floral foam disc and tuck the egg inside. Then, add balloons to soften the landing.

Try it: Balloon Bomb Egg Drop at The Caffeinated Homeschoolista

25. Bungee egg drop

This activity isn’t an egg drop, per say. Students use rubber bands to create a bungee jump for an egg and predict how many rubbers bands they will need for the egg to drop a certain length (maybe six feet). For students who are well versed in the egg drop, this is a fun spin on the idea.

Try it: Bungee Egg Drop at Museum of Science and Industry

26. Backyard egg drop

Looking for ideas to make the egg drop project more challenging? Ask students to find materials in nature—sticks, leaves, an abandoned bird’s nest—to create their egg drop structures.

Try it: Nature Egg Drop at Dream Big at Home

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Plus, check out 50 stem activities to help kids think outside the box ..

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30 Amazing Egg Drop Ideas

By Med Kharbach, PhD | Last Update: May 10, 2024

In today’s post, the focus is on egg drop project ideas! This engaging activity is not only a favorite among science classes and engineering challenges but also a fantastic way to encourage creative problem-solving and hands-on learning. The egg drop experiment involves designing a device that can protect a raw egg from breaking when dropped from a certain height. It’s a perfect blend of fun and education, allowing students to experiment with different materials and designs while learning about physics principles like gravity, impact, and energy absorption.

In this post, we’ll dive into a variety of innovative designs that use everyday materials to protect your fragile cargo. From simple household items to clever engineering hacks, these ideas are designed to inspire and challenge young minds to think outside the box.

Egg Drop Ideas

Whether you’re a teacher looking for classroom activities, a student preparing for a school competition, or a parent seeking a fun weekend project with your kids, these egg drop ideas are sure to provide entertainment and educational value.

1. Parachute Design : Attach a small parachute made of a plastic bag or lightweight fabric to slow down the descent of the egg, reducing the impact when it hits the ground.

2. Straw Cradle : Build a cradle using drinking straws to absorb the shock of the fall. You can design the straws in a box shape or use them to create a cushioning grid around the egg.

3. Balloon Bumper : Use balloons to cushion the egg. Inflate several small balloons and tape them around the egg to act as shock absorbers.

4. Padded Container : Place the egg inside a small plastic container lined with padding such as cotton balls, foam, or even mini marshmallows to absorb the impact.

5. Suspension Box : Suspend the egg inside a box using rubber bands or string. The suspension will help distribute the force of the landing more evenly.

6. Peanut Butter Jar : Fill a small jar with peanut butter and embed the egg inside. The viscosity of the peanut butter helps reduce the impact on the egg.

7. Bubble Wrap Suit : Wrap the egg in several layers of bubble wrap, securing it with tape to ensure it stays cushioned and protected.

8. Cardboard Base : Create a shock-absorbing base using layers of corrugated cardboard cut into squares and glued together, with the egg placed in the center.

9. Popcorn Packing : Fill a box with popped popcorn and nestle the egg in the middle. The popcorn provides a lightweight and effective cushion.

10. Egg in an Egg Carton : Use an egg carton and modify it by cutting out a portion where the egg sits, then surrounding the egg with a combination of soft materials like tissue or sponge. Close the carton and secure it with rubber bands.

11. Sponge Enclosure : Use kitchen sponges to create a protective box around the egg. The sponges act as excellent shock absorbers.

12. Cereal Cushion : Fill a small box with cereal (like puffed rice or corn flakes) to create a soft, impact-absorbing bed for the egg.

13. Tissue Box Theater : Modify a tissue box by cutting a small hole for the egg, surrounded by tissues or soft fabric to cushion the fall.

14. Water Balloon Suspension : Suspend the egg inside a large water balloon filled with a small amount of water. The water helps distribute the impact energy away from the egg.

Related: Best Emotional Literacy Books for Kids

15. Legged Landing Gear : Construct a landing gear using popsicle sticks or small dowels to absorb the shock, allowing the egg to remain suspended in the middle.

16. Cup Cradles : Nestle the egg between two plastic cups lined with soft material and taped together. The cups act like a capsule, protecting the egg on all sides.

17. Pantyhose Pouch : Place the egg inside a section of pantyhose with padding around it. The stretchy material helps to absorb and distribute the shock.

18. Box of Springs : Use small springs or coils from pens placed in a box to create a spring-loaded platform that cushions the fall.

19. Foam Tile Fortress : Construct a fortress around the egg using interlocking foam tiles, which are commonly used as floor mats. They can be cut and arranged to form a protective barrier.

20. Rubber Band Ball : Wrap the egg in a large, dense ball of rubber bands. The rubber bands provide elasticity and cushioning, reducing the impact force.

21. Rice Box : Fill a small box with uncooked rice to create a dense, shock-absorbing cushion that molds around the egg during impact.

22. Styrofoam Support : Carve a small hole in a block of Styrofoam and fit the egg snugly inside. The Styrofoam will help absorb the shock of the drop.

23. Ziploc Bag Hammock : Suspend the egg inside a Ziploc bag filled with air or a light padding material, and then secure the bag within a rigid frame made of straws or popsicle sticks.

24. Cotton Candy Cloud : If available, use cotton candy to encase the egg. The sticky, fluffy texture can absorb shock surprisingly well.

25. Towel Wrap Technique : Wrap the egg in a thick kitchen towel and secure it with rubber bands, creating a soft, cushioned bundle.

26. Jello Mold : Suspend the egg in a small container filled with Jello. Once the Jello sets, it creates a gelatinous cushion that helps absorb impacts.

27. Slinky Shell : Place the egg at the center of a large slinky, allowing the coil to absorb the shock while maintaining its integrity during the drop.

28. Chips Bag Air Cushion : Inflate a small, empty potato chip bag and seal it with tape. Use this air-filled bag to cushion the egg, similar to an airbag.

29. Origami Holder : Create an origami structure with pockets or padding to hold the egg. This can combine art and engineering, using paper’s shock-absorbing properties.

30. Beanie Baby Bed : Use the stuffing from an old plush toy or beanie baby to create a soft, protective bed for the egg within a container.

Related: 20 Team Building Activities for Kids

Final thoughts

I hope these ideas have sparked your creativity and encouraged you to think about simple materials in new and innovative ways. Whether you’re gearing up for a classroom challenge, a science fair, or just looking for a fun activity to do at home, these egg drop designs offer a fantastic opportunity to engage with basic physics concepts and engineering principles.

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Meet Med Kharbach, PhD

Dr. Med Kharbach is an influential voice in the global educational technology landscape, with an extensive background in educational studies and a decade-long experience as a K-12 teacher. Holding a Ph.D. from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Canada, he brings a unique perspective to the educational world by integrating his profound academic knowledge with his hands-on teaching experience. Dr. Kharbach's academic pursuits encompass curriculum studies, discourse analysis, language learning/teaching, language and identity, emerging literacies, educational technology, and research methodologies. His work has been presented at numerous national and international conferences and published in various esteemed academic journals.

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How to Build an Egg Drop Project

Last Updated: January 21, 2022

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 13 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 27,969 times.

This project can be used by science students of various ages to complete a science fair project. These directions can be used to carry out directions and record results in a scientific fashion with accuracy to successfully complete an egg drop project.

Community Q&A

• Buy a trifold presentation board Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Use color pictures Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Create a digital graph online to compare all three trials of the experiment Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Before dropping the experiment make sure that no one is walking in the area you will drop the egg.*Wear gloves while handling the egg, so in case egg cracks you are not exposed to the raw egg contents. *Do not conduct the experiment if you are allergic to eggs. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 5

Things You'll Need

• Masking Tape
• 1 bag of cotton balls
• 2 boxes of facial tissue
• 1 carton of 6 eggs
• Presentation board

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Crack the Norm! Six Egg-citing Egg Drop Experiment Ideas

• EI Editor   Posted On Mar 16, 2016 | Learning Through Play

Spring is the perfect time to conduct an egg drop lesson with your students. The open-ended nature of the challenge, to build a contraption that prevents a raw egg from breaking when dropped, encourages the use of experimentation, prediction, and analyses to solve a problem—the true nature of science! And, speaking of nature, it’s warm enough to take your class outside to test their contraptions. Plus, egg drop lessons are a natural way to introduce the engineering design process (Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Improve), as well as demonstrate several key scientific principles including Newton’s First Law (Inertia), motion, velocity, acceleration, and gravity. There are countless ways to conduct an egg drop experiment. Some contests reward the contraption that protects the most eggs and some require the creation of a contraption to catch a “naked egg.” The suggestions below are designed with younger kids in mind and focus on the creation of a contraption to protect a single falling egg. No matter what kind of egg drop experiment you host and whichever contraption you build, be sure to conduct this activity outside. Cover the ground around your experimentation zone with trash bags for easy cleanup, and have your kids stand back at drop time! Since younger kids are less familiar with these scientific principles and may not have tried an egg drop before, they’ll need a bit of guidance to ensure a successful experience. You may want to begin by discussing ways to protect eggs, such as commercial egg cartons, parachutes, and trampolines. Ask your students about the merits of the commercial egg carton design—how would they improve upon it? What ideas do they have to protect a falling egg? Next, check out the six egg-citing egg drop ideas below. Ask your students to predict which option they think will best protect a falling egg and have them explain their reasoning. Now it’s go time! You know your class best, so you can decide whether to simply set the materials out and let your students loose, or provide a set of materials and specific instructions for a more guided experience. Either way, egg drop day is sure to be a smashing success!

Option 1 – Rice Cereal Cushion

• 4 Small zipper baggies
• 1 Large zipper baggie
• Box of rice cereal

Instructions:

• 1. Put the egg in a small baggie and surround it with rice cereal
• 2. Fill the remaining small baggies with rice cereal
• 3. Place the egg baggie in the center of the large baggie and surround it with the other cereal-filled baggies, so that the egg baggie is cushioned in the center

Ask Your Students:

If the drop was successful: Do you think the egg would have survived if it had been dropped in its single cereal bag (without the other bags to cushion it)? Why or why not? If the drop was not successful: Do you think the egg would have survived if it had been surrounded by more baggies full of cereal? How many more? Might a different cereal have worked better?

Option 2 – Popcorn Ball

• Hollow rubber bouncing ball (at least 6” in diameter)
• Popped popcorn (or packing peanuts)
• 1. Slice a hole in the rubber ball and place your egg inside
• 2. Fill the ball with popcorn, making sure the egg is in the center
• 3. Tape the ball shut with duct tape

Would this experiment have been successful if the ball was full of water instead of popcorn? Why or why not?

Option 3 – Cup Stack Up

• 8 Styrofoam cups
• Small rock or paperweight
• 1. Place the rock or weight in the bottom of one cup and stack six empty cups on top of the weight
• 2. Place the egg in a cup and add that cup to the stack
• 3. Place the last cup in the stack and run a strip of tape down both sides of your stack to keep the cups in place

If your drop was successful: Would this experiment have worked with fewer cups? How many or few would it take to protect the egg? If your drop was not successful: Would more cups have prevented the egg from breaking? How many more?

Option 4 – Panty Hose Sling

• 1 Pair of nylons (pantyhose)
• 2 Rubber bands
• Cardboard box
• 1. Cut a leg off of the nylons and insert the egg in the middle.
• 2. Wrap a rubber band at either side of the egg to keep it from sliding in the hose
• 3. Place the egg in the center of the box and stretch the hose on either side tightly to the edge of the box, securing with a staple and tape

Would this experiment have been successful if the pantyhose you used were twice as long?

Option 5 – Simple Straw Pyramid

• 6 Straws (the non-bendy kind!)
• 1. Cut each straw exactly in half
• 2. Arrange the straws in a triangular pyramid shape (triangle base and sides), taping each corner together
• 3. Suspend the egg in the center so that the triangular pyramid absorbs the impact

Would this experiment work if you replace the straws with Popsicle sticks? Why or why not?

Option 6 – Advanced Straw Pyramid

• Supplies from Option 5 PLUS:
• 12 More straws (the non-bendy kind)
• 1. Follow the instructions for Option 5.
• 2. Tape two of the new straws together, end to end, to make one long straw. Repeat 5 times, until you have 6 super long straws.
• 3. Tape one super long straw to each edge of the triangular pyramid created in Option 5

Did the addition of the super-long straws around the edge make a difference? Why or why not?

Have you conducted egg drop experiments with your students? Which contraptions have worked well for you? Share your experience with your fellow teachers in the comments below.

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Awesome Egg Drop Ideas

Take the egg drop challenge for an awesome  STEM project for young kids and older ones too! Your imagination is the limit with these cleverly styled egg drop designs as you investigate what makes for the best shock absorber for dropping an egg. Read on to find out how the egg drop challenge works and what are the best materials for an egg drop. We have tons more STEM activities for you to try!

Take the Egg Drop Challenge

Create your own egg drop designs to protect your egg from breaking when it is dropped from a height. 

Egg drop challenges are super cool and make for terrific STEM activities! I have been waiting to do a classic egg drop project for some time with my son but felt like he was too young.

The goal of the egg drop challenge is to drop your egg from a height without it breaking when it hits the ground.

Most egg drop projects use many loose materials, design making, and tinkering that my son isn’t ready for yet. I thought we could expand on it by using materials in our kitchen to protect the eggs including ziptop bags to control the mess.

What else can you do with eggs? Watch the video!

Grab the FREE Printable Egg Drop Worksheets!

What are the Best Materials for an Egg Drop?

We have two versions of this egg drop challenge below, one for older and younger kids. Do you need real eggs? Usually, I would say yes, but given the circumstances, how about candy-filled plastic eggs ? If you don’t want to waste food for any reason, don’t! Find a workaround instead.

Egg Drop Ideas for Older Kids

Older kiddos will love coming up with ideas to protect the egg in an egg drop. Certainly, egg drop designs can be more involved the older a kid gets, making this a great activity to try each year. Some materials they may want to use…

• Packaging materials
• Old T-shirts or rags
• Recycling container goodies
• And so much more!

Here’s a past year’s winner in the egg drop challenge! It even included a plastic bag parachute!

Egg Drop Ideas for Younger Kids

You will need eggs and plastic zip top bags to contain the mess! How many is up to you? We had seven bags left, so we came up with six items from around the kitchen to fill the bags and protect the eggs and one with nothing.

I tried to pick items that weren’t too wasteful, and we had a few expired and unused items in the pantry. Some materials you could use to protect the egg…

• paper towels
• dry cereal {we used very old wheat puffs}

Best Egg Drop Design Ideas

Here are ten simple egg-drop design ideas for kids to try.

TIP: Tape and rubber bands are great to have on hand for securing constructions.

1. Parachute Design

Attach a parachute made from a plastic bag or thin fabric to slow down the descent of the egg. Experiment with different parachute sizes and shapes.

Materials: Plastic bags, fabric scraps, tissue paper.

2. Cup and String Contraption

Suspend the egg inside a cup using strings or rubber bands. The cup absorbs some of the impact, and the strings provide additional support.

Materials: Paper cups, rubber bands, string or yarn.

3. Bubble Wrap Encasement

Wrap the egg in several layers of bubble wrap to provide cushioning and protection. Secure the bubble wrap with tape.

Materials: Bubble wrap, packing peanuts, tissue paper.

4. Straw Structure

Create a protective structure using straws. Arrange the straws to form a cage around the egg, leaving enough space for the egg to be cradled safely.

Materials: Plastic or paper straws.

5. Balloon Cushioning

Inflate a balloon and tape it securely around the egg. The balloon acts as a cushion during the fall.

Materials: Regular balloons.

6. Cotton Ball Padding

Surround the egg with a thick layer of cotton balls or cotton padding. This can absorb some of the impact forces upon landing.

Materials: Cotton balls, cotton pads, sponge, foam padding.

7. Foam Container

Place the egg inside a small foam container, such as a foam cup or takeout container. The foam absorbs and disperses the impact energy.

Materials: Plastic containers, foam cups, paper cups, small boxes.

8. Paper Mache Shell

Create a protective shell for the egg using paper mache. The hardened shell provides a protective barrier against impact.

Materials: Newspapers, flour, water.

9. Cardboard Tube Construction

Use cardboard tubes (toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls) to create a protective structure around the egg. Arrange the tubes to form a cradle for the egg.

Materials: Cardboard sheets, cardboard tubes.

10. Feathered Landing

Attach feathers to the egg to slow down its descent. The feathers create drag, reducing the speed at which the egg falls.

Materials: Bird feathers or craft feathers.

Remember to encourage students to test and refine their designs. They can vary the drop height or make adjustments to improve the performance of their egg drop contraptions. Additionally, discussing the science behind each design choice can add to the learning experience.

5 Ways To Extend The Challenge

Want to turn this fun science activity into a science fair project? Check out these helpful resources.

• Easy Science Fair Projects
• Science Project Tips From A Teacher
• Science Fair Board Ideas

Investigate Different Types Of Materials

Get students to design a container for the egg using various materials like paper, cardboard, plastic, and foam. Then, compare which material offers the best protection.

Shape Experiment

Explore the impact of the shape of the container on the egg’s safety. Students can create different shapes, such as cubes, spheres, or pyramids, and see which one works best.

Parachute Design

Challenge students to design a parachute system that slows down the egg’s descent. This adds an aerodynamics element to the project.

Weight Constraint

Introduce the maximum weight constraint for the entire contraption. This requires students to think about the trade-off between protection and weight.

Altitude Variations

Change the height from which the egg is dropped. Ask students to adjust their designs for different drop heights and explain how they made these adjustments.

Add These STEM Questions for Reflection

These STEM questions for reflection are perfect to use with older kiddos to talk about how the project went and what they might do differently next time around. Use these questions for reflection with your kids after they have completed the STEM challenge to encourage discussion of results and critical thinking .

—> Get the printable STEM questions list here .

• What were some of the challenges you discovered along the way?
• What worked well and what did not work well?
• What part of your model or prototype do you really like? Explain why.
• What part of your model or prototype needs improvement? Explain why.
• What other materials would you like to use if you could do this challenge again?
• What would you do differently next time?
• What parts of your model or prototype are similar to the real world version?

Check Our Our Egg Drop Experiment

The first egg drop challenge had to be the egg in the zip-top bag. We had to ensure the bag wasn’t protecting the egg, right? Crash and splat went that egg drop. Since it’s already in a bag, I might as well squish it around!

We continued with the egg drop challenge, testing each bag and then examining the contents. This egg drop project had some clear winners!

IDEAS THAT FAILED!

Obviously, the egg did not fair well with no protection. It also didn’t make it through an egg drop in water or ice. Note: We tried the water twice! Once with 8 cups and once with 4 cups.

EGG DROP IDEAS THAT WORKED!

However, the egg drop did make it through the crazy cup contraption. We were all impressed. It also made it through a drop in a bag of cereal. The egg, however, did not fare well in the paper towels. He didn’t think the towels were thick enough!

It would be a great egg drop project idea to explore: how to drop an egg without breaking it using paper!

We concluded the egg drop challenge, with a bag of flour mix. {This was very old gluten-free mix we will never use}. The flour was “soft” apparently making for great protection against the fall.

More Egg Science Activities

Prepare the eggs for more simple science projects to explore chemistry, biology, and physics!

• Do Eggs Float?
• Make A Bouncy Egg
• Test the strength of eggshells
• Get an egg into a bottle

More Favorite STEM Challenges

Straw Boats Challenge – Design a boat made from nothing but straws and tape, and see how many items it can hold before it sinks.

How Strong Is An Egg – Test much weight one egg can hold before it breaks.

Strong Spaghetti – Get out the pasta and test our your spaghetti bridge designs. Which one will hold the most weight?

Spaghetti Marshmallow Tower – Build the tallest spaghetti tower that can hold the weight of a jumbo marshmallow.

Strong Paper – Experiment with folding paper in different ways to test its strength, and learn about what shapes make the strongest structures.

Printable STEM Pack for Kids

80+ Doable Engineering Projects in one convenient pack!

• Full instructions with sample images
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• Data Collection Sheets
• Questions for Reflection
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• Bridge Building Cards: Explore different types of bridges to build your own.
• Paper Chain STEM Challenge: Who can make the longest chain? Great icebreaker or quick challenge!
• 3 Little Pigs Architectural Pack: Design a house that won’t blow away!
• Great marshmallow challenge: A classic challenge kids love!
• Real-world STEM challenge lesson but don’t know where to start? Our easy-to-follow template shows the steps!
• What’s the difference between a scientist and an engineer?
• Crossword and word search with engineering vocabulary.
• Engineering vocabulary cards
• Design a one-of-a-kind invention and write about it with this 5-page activity!

you worry too much about what people will think do your experiments and be happy who cares if you wasted a couple eggs. it was good clean fun with your kids.

Did any of the bags burst open? I’m interesting in leading this for a library program and need to figure out where we should drop the bags.

There was no catastrophic bag opening. I would suggest making sure the air is out of the bag first. You could also drop it into a plastic bin. Also go with quality zip top bags if you are worried. Have fun with it!

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Activity Length

45 mins. (20 min. for drop), forces and motion, activity type, exploration.

In this exploration, students design, evaluate, test, and suggest improvements for a container that will protect their precious payload: an egg.

The Classic "Egg-Drop" experiment has been a standard in science instruction for many years. Essentially, students are asked to construct some type of container that will keep a raw egg from cracking when dropped from ever-increasing elevations.

There are three basic ways to increase the likelihood of safely dropping an egg:

• Slow down the descent speed . Parachutes are an obvious method for slowing the decent speed, as long as the design includes a way to keep the parachute open.
• Cushion the egg so that something other than the egg itself absorbs the impact of landing. The largest end of the egg has an area of air trapped between the egg's two membranes. This air space forms when the contents of the egg cool and contract after the egg is laid. It accounts for the crater you often see at the end of a hard-cooked egg. Upon impact the heavier spherical yolk continues moving towards the ground. The compression of the airspace acts like an air bag for the eggs' valuable contents. Building an artificial cushioning device will also help absorb the impact of landing. The largest end of the egg has an area of air trapped between the egg's two membranes. This air space forms when the contents of the egg cool and contract after the egg is laid. It accounts for the crater you often see at the end of a hard-cooked egg. Upon impact the heavier spherical yolk continues moving towards the ground. The compression of the airspace acts like an air bag for the eggs' valuable contents. Building an artificial cushioning device will also help absorb the impact of landing.
• Orient the egg so that it lands on the strongest part of the shell. The arch structure at either end of the egg is stronger than its sides. Pressure is distributed down (or up) the arches so that less pressure acts on any one point. Orienting the arch downwards will increase the egg's survival.

The Challenge: On August 22, 1994, David Donoghue threw an egg out of a helicopter onto a golf course in the UK, from a height of 213 meters (700 feet). He now has the record for the longest egg drop without breaking in the world (all without an outside structure for added protection!).

Teacher Tip: You can relate the activity to the challenge NASA scientists had in building a lander for the Mars Exploration Rover. Physically, it had to withstand both the heat of entry into the Martian atmosphere and the impact of landing. Strategically, they also had to figure out a way that the rover could right itself no matter how it landed. Students love to see how the structure they've built often resembles the one conceived by NASA scientists.

Demonstrate curiosity and show inventiveness.

Brainstorm in a team to generate ideas.

Use problem-solving strategies in building simple structures.

Per Class: large plastic sheet/tarp/vinyl tablecloth ladder (optional)

Per Group of 2–3 students: 1 extra-large egg 1 bag of materials (may include cardboard cup, string, tape, balloons, straws, etc.) 2 sheets of scrap paper and 2 pencils

Key Questions

• What was successful/unsuccessful in your design?
• What makes an egg a good ‘subject’ for the drop experiments?

Preparation:

• Scout out accessible locations around the school for the egg drop at different heights.
• Make enough bags of materials for student groups.

Exploration:

• Challenge the students (in teams of 2–3) to build a structure in 40 minutes that will prevent an egg from breaking when dropped from a high place. Brainstorm ways to increase the likelihood of safely landing their eggs.
• Each group gets a bag of materials, 2 pencils, and 2 sheets of scrap paper.
• The students cannot assemble anything for the first 10 minutes. This time is to be used to brainstorm and to draw a mockup of their structure on the scrap paper provided.
• When the 10 minutes is up, circulate around the class to ensure that the students have thoughtfully mocked up their landers.
• Place the eggs in individual egg holders and hand out to the teams. Remind students that they cannot use the egg holder as part of their design.
• Drop the eggs from a launch point into the drop zone, which is protected by a plastic sheet, ensuring that each lander is dropped from the same distance.
• Once dropped, the students check out the egg to see if it has broken or if there are any cracks.
• The team whose egg survives the highest drop wins.

Teacher tips 

• The teacher should be the one to launch the eggs to ensure fairness and to reduce the risk of injury (if dropping from a high distance).
• Many of the supplies in this activity can be collected and reused!
• How would you modify your design to make it better? Present your revised mock-up to the class.
• Assign prices to each craft item and give students a budget. Students come to the “store” with their designs and the teacher hands out the materials they’ve requested.
• Show the students the Mars Exploration Rover landing video .

About the sticker

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

Comet Crisp

T-Rex and Baby

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

Buddy the T-Rex

Science Buddies

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.

Western Dinosaur

Time-Travel T-Rex

Related Resources

Parachute design and drop, in this make and take, students exploit the force of drag to make a parachute that will drop as slowly…, eggstraordinary eggsperiments, there are many easy and fun experiments that can be done with eggs, encompassing a number of different scientific principles., gum-drop structures, in this activity, students create delectable models of building structures with gumdrops and toothpicks, and examine their strength and…, discovering a way for people to take flight is undoubtedly one of the most awe-inspiring feats of human ingenuity…, lunatic landers, in this twist on the classic egg drop activity, students are assigned the task of designing a personed spacecraft to land…, building and testing earthquake-proof structures, in this activity, students try to build structures that will withstand a richter 8 shaking. materials may be used alone or…, related school offerings.

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Egg Drop Project

This is the classic egg drop experiment. Students try to build a structure that will prevent a raw egg from breaking when dropped from a significant height. They should think about creating a design that would reduce the amount of energy transferred from potential to kinetic energy on the egg shell. Some ways to do this would be to decrease the final speed of the egg using air resistance, increasing the time of the collision using some sort of cushion, transferring the energy into something else, or whatever else they can think of!

Each group of students gets the following:

• 2 small paper cups
• 1 sq ft of cellophane
• 4 rubberbands
• 4 popsickle sticks
• 2 ft of tape
• 1 egg (not provided)

Subjects Covered

• Energy Conservation

Provided by requester

• One egg for each student group
• Floor covering (Ex: Newspaper, Tarp)

Provided by us

• Small paper cups
• Rubberbands
• Popsickle sticks

Physics Behind the Demo

The Egg hitting the ground is a collision between the Earth and the Egg. When collisions occur, two properties of the colliding bodies are changed and/or transferred: their Energy and Momentum . This change and transfer is mediated by one or many forces . If the force is too strong, it can cause the shell of the egg to crack and break.

Momentum Transfer and Impulse (no Calculus)

Starting with the definition of Force a and knowing that acceleration is just the change in velocity over the change in time

$$ \textbf{F}=ma=m\cdot{\frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}} $$

If we move the $\Large \Delta t $ to the left side of the equation we can see how Force is related to momentum

$$ \textbf{F} \cdot{\Delta t}=m \cdot{\Delta v}$$

This means that the Force multiplied by the change in time, or duration of a collision, is equal to the mass multiplied by the change in velocity. Momentum (p) is defined as the mass multiplied by the velocity so the right side is the change in momentum. This change in momentum is the Impulse ( J )

$$ \textbf{J}= \textbf{F} \cdot{\Delta t}=\Delta \textbf{p}$$

a: In this case we are actually talking about the average force, but to keep things simple we will just call it the force.

Momemtum Transfer and Impulse (Calculus)

In Progress

Egg Drop Challenge: Designing Crash-Proof Containers for School Science Fun

Table of Contents

Egg Drop Challenge: The Egg Drop Challenge is a classic exercise in problem-solving that combines design, engineering, and science to protect a fragile object from a high fall. In this task, you’re presented with the objective of constructing a crash-proof container to keep an egg intact when dropped from a significant height. It’s an engaging way to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical, hands-on manner and sparks creativity and innovation as you experiment with different materials and construction techniques.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, involves a careful selection of materials and a strategic approach to engineering. You’ll need to understand the science of impact and cushioning—how forces work and how they can be managed to minimise damage. Prototyping and testing are integral to this iterative design process, as is a thorough analysis of the results to refine your container to perfection.

Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole and an educational consultant with a wealth of classroom experience, emphasises the importance of hands-on projects: “The Egg Drop Challenge encapsulates the thrill of learning by doing , as students get a tangible experience of physics at play.”

Key Takeaways

• Designing crash-proof containers is an inventive process that teaches the application of science and engineering principles.
• Material selection and construction techniques are crucial to develop an effective solution for the Egg Drop Challenge.
• The cycle of prototyping, testing, and analysis is essential for refining designs and achieving success in the challenge.

Understanding the Egg Drop Challenge

In the Egg Drop Challenge , your ingenuity is put to the test as you design containers that protect an egg from breaking when dropped from a height. This exercise is not only about fun; it taps into key STEM principles and encourages the development of practical skills in science and engineering.

Physics Fundamentals

To protect the egg, your container must effectively manage the impact forces . Upon hitting the ground, the kinetic energy from the fall is transferred to the egg and its container. A successful design will absorb this energy, minimizing the forces acting upon the egg to prevent cracking. The concept of energy absorption is vital here, involving cushioning materials and structural design elements that dissipate energy.

Goals and Objectives

The objectives of this challenge are multifaceted. The immediate goal is to create a crash-proof container, bearing in mind the safety and crashworthiness of your design. Performance is also key, as the container should be lightweight yet sturdy. This hands-on approach bolsters comprehension of physical laws and enhances problem-solving skills, preparing you for real-world challenges in fields like transportation, where similar principles ensure vehicle safety.

Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole and an educational consultant with 16 years of classroom experience, says, “The Egg Drop Challenge exemplifies learning by doing, which is crucial for grasping complex scientific concepts and fostering a growth mindset in our future innovators.”

Design Principles

When embarking on the Egg Drop Challenge, it’s essential to understand that the primary goal is to create a container that can protect an egg from breaking when dropped from a certain height. This necessitates a combination of innovative design strategies and the integration of safety features.

Innovative Design Strategies

Your design strategy should focus on absorbing the impact of the fall to protect the egg. Utilising materials that are shock-absorbent, such as cardboard , is a common method. For instance, cushioning the egg inside a cardboard structure can significantly reduce the force transmitted to the egg during the drop. Michele Connolly, founder of LearningMole and an educational consultant with a wealth of experience, suggests that “ Exploring different materials and structures can lead to surprising discoveries in the Egg Drop Challenge, fostering creativity and problem-solving skills in young learners.”

Safety Features Integration

In terms of safety features, your container should include elements that prevent the egg, whether a plastic egg , real egg , or boiled egg , from experiencing the harsh effects of a sudden stop. This might involve internal padding or external features like parachutes or crumple zones. It’s not unlike the approach recommended in the prevention of fire in aircraft, where multiple extinguisher bottles are fitted for safety – each feature you add can contribute to the overall protection of the egg just like each extinguisher is a line of defence against fire.

Material Selection and Usage

In the Egg Drop Challenge, the materials you choose and how you use them are pivotal to success. The right combination can mean the difference between a shattered egg and a flawless landing.

Properties of Materials

Cardboard , foam , and straws are often the go-to choices due to their shock-absorbing qualities. Cardboard serves as a sturdy exterior, while foam can cushion impact effectively. Straws provide an internal structure that can disperse forces. Rubber bands add elasticity, allowing for some give upon impact, which can prevent the plastic egg from cracking. Using hot glue gun techniques ensures the structure holds together, but be judicious—too much glue adds unnecessary weight.

Materials like steel or dowels can offer a rigid frame. However, you need to strategically position them to avoid direct force transfer to the egg. Remember, each material has its unique density, tensile strength, and flexibility, so think about how they work collectively to protect your egg.

Eco-Friendly Choices

Incorporating eco-friendly materials isn’t just good for the environment; it can also bring innovation to your design. Recycled materials like biodegradable foam or plant-based plastics show concern for sustainability without compromising on your container’s integrity. Be imaginative with materials like recycled paper or naturally sourced rubber bands. Every choice should reflect a balance between eco-consciousness and performance.

“Experimenting with eco-friendly materials can lead to surprising innovations,” says Michelle Connolly , founder and educational consultant at LearningMole. “It challenges you to think outside the box and often leads to more creative solutions.” Michelle brings over 16 years of classroom experience, advocating for immersive and hands-on learning, ensuring that even in challenges like these, your approach remains environmentally responsible.

Construction and Engineering Techniques

In tackling the Egg Drop Challenge, constructing a robust frame and a crash box are central to creating a container that can protect its fragile cargo from impact. These techniques are reflective of practices used in real-world engineering challenges.

Building a Robust Frame

To construct a sturdy frame, select materials that balance strength and weight. Balsa wood is commonly used for its lightweight yet robust nature. Begin by constructing a geodesic structure, a method used in engineering for distributing stress evenly. The thickness of the materials contributes to the frame’s ability to absorb impact without adding unnecessary weight. Use a hot glue gun to assemble the frame, as the adhesive sets quickly and provides a strong bond, allowing you to build and test designs efficiently.

Creating the Crash Box

The crash box or crumple zone is a structure designed to absorb and dissipate kinetic energy during impact. Create a crash box by layering materials like foam, bubble wrap or even straws cut to different lengths, replicating the hybrid solutions found in automotive engineering where a mixture of materials with different properties are used for impact protection. The key is to engineer the box so that it compresses upon impact, slowing down the deceleration of the egg and thus minimising the forces at play.

The Science of Impact and Cushioning

When you design a container for the Egg Drop Challenge, understanding how to manage the forces during impact is crucial to keep the egg intact. This section explores the principles of energy absorption and the cushioning mechanisms that can be employed to enhance the safety features of your container.

Energy Absorption

In the Egg Drop Challenge, energy absorption is key to preventing the egg from breaking. When an object falls, it accumulates kinetic energy, which must be dissipated upon impact to reduce the force transmitted to the egg. Using materials that can deform or compress, like foam or cardboard, helps to absorb some of the energy. This transformation of energy keeps the egg safe by minimising the forces it experiences.

Example materials for energy absorption:

• Foam : Compresses to cushion the egg and slows down the force over a greater time.
• Cardboard : Bends and crumples, absorbing energy through deformation.

Cushioning Mechanisms

Cushioning mechanisms are designs or materials that specifically aim to reduce the impact force. They act like the airbags of your egg drop container, providing safety features that shield the egg from the harsh forces of impact. Some options for effective cushioning include the strategic use of rubber bands to hold the egg in place and distribute the forces, or designing a container with multiple layers, where each layer takes part in shock absorption.

Example cushioning mechanisms:

• Rubber Bands : Stretch to extend the duration of impact and lessen force concentration.
• Layered Design : Utilises arrangements of different materials, each adding a level of protection.

Michelle Connolly, the founder and educational consultant with a vast classroom experience, suggests, “A successful egg drop design mimics real-world safety features – it’s all about creating a cradle of protection.” Use this advice to guide your material choices and design strategy. Your mission is to protect the egg as if it were a delicate passenger navigating a treacherous fall.

Prototyping and Testing

Before diving into your Egg Drop Challenge project, it’s crucial to understand that prototyping and testing are iterative processes. They involve trial and error and require you to balance impact resistance with the limitations of your resources, whether you’re using a plastic egg or a real egg.

Trial runs are your first chance to see how your egg container performs under stress. During this phase, it’s not unusual to conduct multiple drops, each teaching you more about how your container reacts to impact. Test out different materials and structure designs, keeping in mind that each drop is an opportunity to learn and improve.

• First Drop: Note the container’s response to impact.
• Subsequent Drops: Adjust design based on the performance of the previous trial.

Enhancing Performance Through Testing

Enhancing performance through testing is about making informed adjustments to improve your egg container’s chances of surviving the fall. Assessing performance based on the results of each test drop allows you to tweak your design effectively. Remember, it’s not just about surviving one drop; your design needs to ensure the egg can withstand multiple impacts.

• Material Selection: Choose resources wisely, considering their ability to absorb shock.
• Design Iteration: Refine the container’s structure based on test results.

Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole and an expert with over 16 years of classroom experience, wisely puts it, “Testing is a powerful means of learning, pushing students to apply theoretical knowledge practically and witness the real-life implications of their designs.” This hands-on learning approach is not only effective but also aligns with the friendly and immersive educational experiences advocated by LearningMole.

Lesson Plans and Educational Resources

When embarking on the Egg Drop Challenge, it’s important to have a wealth of resources and a well-structured lesson plan that promotes STEM education . These tools will support your understanding and engagement in creating crash-proof containers.

STEM Education Integration

Integrating the Egg Drop Challenge into your STEM curriculum can provide hands-on experience with physics, engineering principles, and problem-solving skills. For instance, LearningMole offers dynamic lesson plans that bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. Michelle Connolly, the founder of LearningMole and an educational consultant with an extensive 16-year background in classroom settings, says, “True learning in STEM comes from doing, from the trial and error of real-world application.” The platform allows you to access a rich assortment of STEM resources that cater to various educational needs, including SEN, ensuring that every student can participate and benefit.

Classroom Activities

A variety of classroom activities for the Egg Drop Challenge can make learning exciting and memorable. LearningMole provides you with a trove of engaging content, including interactive tutorials and activity sheets, to help you experiment with different materials and container designs. These resources emphasize the thrill of innovation and foster a culture where children learn by experiencing concepts firsthand. Encouraging creativity through designing crash-proof containers allows students to indulge in the enjoyment of learning and discover the impact of resilient design on real-world problems.

Egg Drop in Popular Culture

Egg drop challenges have become a modern tradition that blend entertainment, education, and friendly competition, especially spotlighting Easter and scientific endeavours.

Easter Celebrations

During Easter, egg drop challenges take on a festive twist. You might find families engaging in unconventional Easter egg hunts where instead of the typical search for chocolate or candy-filled eggs, participants create innovative crash-proof containers for actual eggs or plastic eggs . It’s not just about who can find the most eggs, but whose egg survives the fall. This quirky addition to Easter celebrations adds a fun scientific angle to the holiday, making it both amusing and educational.

Egg Drop Competitions

In egg drop competitions , participants of all ages gather to test their engineering prowess. Armed with a range of materials from bubble wrap to straws, competitors construct containers aiming to protect a raw egg from a high fall. These events are more than a test of creativity—they often raise awareness on topics such as traffic accidents or the importance of designing crash-proof vehicles and devices.

As noted by Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole and an expert with 16 years of classroom experience, “The egg drop challenge is a brilliant way for children and adults alike to grasp the basics of physics and materials science in a hands-on and dynamic setting.”

In the context of popular culture, these challenges illuminate concepts related to impact forces and energy dissipation. They encourage you to think like an engineer, fostering a deeper understanding that extends beyond a fun activity and resonates with real-world issues, such as creating safer cars and protecting animals during transportation.

Safety Considerations

In the Egg Drop Challenge, your primary focus should be on ensuring safety while testing the durability of crash-proof containers. Pay careful attention to minimising the risk of injuries and implementing responsible testing practices.

Preventing Injuries

Use a safe drop zone clear from people, especially when using real eggs, to prevent any potential injuries from falling debris. When designing your container, incorporate a seatbelt or equivalent restraint for the egg to mitigate the force upon impact, similar to how a seatbelt safeguards passengers in a vehicle.

Responsible Testing Practices

Develop a systematic approach for testing. If using a plastic egg as a substitute for a real egg during trial runs, ensure that the swap to a real egg for the final test is done carefully to maintain the integrity of the experiment. “It’s all about engaging with the experiment while keeping safety at the forefront,” advises Michelle Connolly, an educational expert with ample classroom experience. Remember to always wear safety goggles and have first aid equipment on hand in case of any accidents.

Analyzing the Results

When examining the performance of your crash-proof containers during the Egg Drop Challenge, two key aspects must be closely scrutinised: the success metrics and the insights gleaned from any failures. This analysis will help you understand the effectiveness of the materials used and the safety of the design.

Measuring Success

Success in the Egg Drop Challenge is typically gauged by whether the egg remains intact post-drop. To objectively assess performance, consider factors such as the absorption of impact and the integrity of the container. You might list the materials that successfully shielded the egg or use a table to rate various designs based on performance criteria like cushioning, weight , and how the designs held up to the test.

“Ingenuity in materials selection and design finesse often turn the odds in favour of survival in this classic physics exercise,” shares Michelle Connolly, a prominent educational consultant.

Learning from Failures

Drawing lessons from failures is equally important. Analyse each failed test to determine why the container did not protect the egg. Pay attention to aspects like material brittleness or design flaws that led to a compromised safety outcome. Documenting these points will direct you towards necessary modifications for improved results in future iterations.

Remember, every test, whether successful or not, is a stepping stone towards a design that combines resilience, lightweight construction, and utmost safety for the egg.

Community and Online Resources

When tackling the Egg Drop Challenge, the community and online resources at your disposal can provide invaluable insights. These platforms are a treasure trove for tips, tutorials, and real-life experiences from participants who have undertaken similar projects.

Forums and Blogs

Dive into the interactive world of forums and blogs which serve as a collaborative stage for exchanging ideas. Websites like LearningMole offer a range of articles and discussions around hands-on STEM activities. There, you’ll find posts written by practitioners brimming with tips on how to create crash-proof containers for egg drops. Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole with extensive classroom experience, suggests, “Incorporate a trial and error approach in your design process; it’s as much about learning from what doesn’t work as what does.”

• Blogs : Gain insights from detailed blog entries and experience accounts.
• Forums : Engage with a community of learners and educators through thought-provoking discussions.

Tips and Guides

Your journey to creating crash-proof egg containers can be guided by various resources tailored to offer step-by-step guidance. Look out for comprehensive guides that help you sort through different design strategies and materials to fortify your container.

• Guides : Detailed instructions walk you through each step of the design process.
• Tips : Proven advice hones your understanding of what makes a container robust.

By leveraging forums, blogs, and curated guides, you’ll advance your Egg Drop Challenge with the backing of an educational community rich in expertise and creativity.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Egg Drop Challenge is a popular science activity that combines creativity with physics. Here are some tailored responses addressing frequently asked questions, all aiming to bolster your understanding of the task and equip you with the knowledge for success.

How can one devise an egg drop container that ensures optimal protection?

To ensure optimal protection for your egg during the Egg Drop Challenge, you should focus on dispersing the impact of the fall. Using materials like straws to create a crumple zone, or spongy materials like cotton balls to absorb shock, can be effective strategies.

Could you suggest some inventive ideas for an egg drop project that prevents the egg from cracking?

“Applying one’s ingenuity is key. For instance, incorporating a parachute can reduce terminal velocity, while the use of bubble wrap or balloons might cushion the egg effectively,” notes Michelle Connolly, an educational consultant with extensive classroom experience.

What assortment of materials is typically recommended for creating an effective egg drop challenge setup?

Common materials for the Egg Drop Challenge include bubble wrap, spongy materials, straws, and tape. These items provide cushioning and energy absorption, which are vital for preventing cracks.

Are there specific guidelines one should follow to fulfil the requirements of an egg drop challenge?

Each Egg Drop Challenge may have its own set of rules. Generally, you’ll be required to construct a device that can keep an egg intact from a predetermined height. Be sure to understand the specific guidelines for your challenge.

Could you elaborate on the scientific principles behind the egg drop experiment?

The egg drop experiment is grounded in the physics of motion and energy transfer. Concepts such as gravity , air resistance, and energy conversion are central to the challenge. The goal is to convert potential and kinetic energy into other forms of energy, thus preventing the egg from breaking.

What modifications might be applied to an egg drop apparatus to decelerate its descent?

Increasing air resistance is one approach to decelerate your egg drop apparatus. This can be achieved by adding parachutes or creating drag with lightweight materials. Michelle Connolly suggests, “It’s akin to designing a spacecraft re-entry, where every layer serves to dissipate energy and slow the descent.”

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The Ultimate Egg Drop Engineering Project

Categories Engineering Activities

When I was a kid, we had a book about this egg drop engineering project , and ever since then, I have wanted to try it. We live on the third floor, so we have quite a long drop from our balcony, which is perfect for this experiment.

If you don’t live in an apartment or have a second story, you might be able to test your eggs by tossing them off your roof. The egg drop challenge is one of our favorite engineering activities for kids!

We’ve also tried a turkey egg drop that was tons of fun!

How to Do the Egg Drop Engineering Project

The egg drop engineering challenge is one of our favorite engineering activities!

The goal of this project is to create a container that will safely deposit a raw egg onto the ground when it is dropped from something high.

Egg Drop STEM Challenge Ideas

Let kids be as creative in their designs as they want.  You might want to include some design challenges like they must use a cardboard box, their design must fly, or they have to use sponges.

You could also require that the designs be a certain size, such as under 10 inches.

Make your egg drop have a theme, like in our turkey Egg Drop Project with Popsicle Sticks .

Another fun twist is to try dropping the eggs from different heights. The egg padding that withstands the most tumbling is the winner!

The Science Behind the Egg Drop Challenge

I love the egg drop engineering project because it involves creativity mixed with a bit of physics.

The force of the fall and the impact breaks the egg. But with enough design adaptations, you can prevent an egg from breaking at almost any speed!

There are probably hundreds of designs that will keep the egg safe.

With a group of children, it would be fun to see what differing designs could be successful in keeping the eggs from breaking.

The more types of designs tested the better!

What You Need for Egg Drop Designs

You’ll need these supplies for the egg drop engineering challenge.

• Raw eggs (buy some cheap ones so you can make multiple attempts)
• Various containers and padding
• We used bubble wrap, cotton balls, plastic trash bags, plastic food containers, string, tape, plastic bags, and egg crates

How to Set Up an Egg Drop Engineering Project

Follow these steps to make your own egg drop STEM challenge!

Idea 1: How to prevent an egg from breaking when dropped with straws

In this version, I challenged the kids to create a cage for their egg out of straws.

It was a pretty good design!

Even though we only dropped it from the second story, I bet the design would have held up from even higher up.

Idea 2: How to prevent an egg from breaking when dropped

Monkey thought she could create a little nest for the egg like in a hot air balloon. She used the trash bag as the balloon and placed the egg in a plastic ice cream dish.

She padded the bottom of the egg, but not the sides.

When we dropped the egg, it fell onto its side and exploded.

Idea 3: Balloon egg drop design

Monkey expanded on the hot air balloon design, but this time, she made the container holding the egg larger.

She padded the egg in several layers of padding, including a plastic bag blown up to create an air pocket. She taped the container to the trash bag balloon.

When we dropped this package, it still fell pretty heavily (I’m not sure the balloon part was necessary), but the padding prevented the egg from breaking.

If you do the egg drop engineering project, share your results with us! We would love to see your creations!

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Share this project with a friend!

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Parachute Egg Drop Experiment – Gravity and Air Resistance

July 19, 2019 By Emma Vanstone 9 Comments

This fun parachute egg drop experiment is a great demonstration of the forces acting on parachutes. If you drop something, it falls to the ground. This is because it is pulled by the gravity of the Earth. You’ll notice that some things drop faster than others. This is because of air resistance . Try dropping a piece of paper and a lego brick. Which drops the fastest?

We are going to try dropping an egg on its own, dropping an egg attached to a parachute and an egg in a basket under a balloon.

Egg Drop Experiment

How to make an egg parachute

What you need to make a parachute.

• Bin bag/ plastic sheet/paper or other flat material.
• 4 pieces of string
• sellotape or masking tape
• 3 eggs ( we boiled ours )

Parachute Instructions

• Lay the bin bag out flat and cut out a big square.
• Make a hole in each corner, thread a piece of string through it and tie a knot.
• Tie all 4 pieces of string together and sellotape the egg to the bottom

Make Your Own Air Balloon

Air balloon materials.

• Cardboard made into a basket shape or a small plastic container
• Balloon blown up
• 4 pieces of String

Air Balloon Instructions

• Sellotape some string to your balloon and attach the basket.
• Place the egg in the basket

Drop an egg on its own, the egg in the basket and the egg in the parachute from somewhere high up. Make sure an adult is around to help with this part.

Gravity and Air Resistance Explained

If you tried dropping paper and a lego brick or similar, the paper should have dropped to the floor more slowly than the brick. This is because the paper has a larger surface area, so has to push against more air as it drops, which means the air resistance is greater, and it drops more slowly.

An egg dropped without anything to slow it down will fall fast and break; the parachute and balloon add air resistance, slowing the fall and stopping the egg from breaking.

We also found that the parachute fell much more slowly than the balloon. This is because the parachute has a larger surface area than the balloon, and so slows the descent of the egg more.

If we dropped a hammer and a feather, we would expect the hammer to fall fastest; however, if we did this on the moon where there is no air resistance, they would hit the ground at the same time!

How do Parachutes Work?

As we explained above, two forces act on an object as it falls. Gravity pulls the object down, and air resistance slows the fall.

Parachutes are used to slow the fall of an object by increasing air resistance which reduces the effect of gravity!

More parachute investigation Ideas

Record the time taken for all three to drop and see how much slower the parachute is.

Try our experiments you can make fly .

Experiment with different sizes of parachutes and see which drops more slowly.

Don’t forget to try our collection of easy ideas for learning about forces too.

In This IS Rocket Science we made parachutes with coffee filters which was great fun and you can experiment with different sizes and shapes.

If you liked this science experiment you’ll LOVE my book This IS Rocket Science, which has 70 space themed science experiments for kids!

This post was originally published in 2011 and updated July 2019

Last Updated on March 14, 2023 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

September 11, 2011 at 8:49 am

Fab. Really well explained!

September 14, 2011 at 10:11 pm

Thank you. xx

October 28, 2013 at 12:44 am

cool video but it didn’t answer my question

September 11, 2011 at 3:03 pm

You always make science fun!

September 14, 2011 at 10:10 pm

Thank you, we do try!

September 11, 2011 at 7:59 pm

That is cool. Did the egg break when you did that? Nevermind I saw the answer when I reread it.

THanks for linking up this week!

Thank you for hosting such a great link up. x

September 14, 2011 at 2:16 pm

Love how you make science fun and bring it into the home… Did you know I did Physics A-Levels? Well, this will come in handy with my kids! 🙂

Thanks for sharing on Kids Get Crafty!

June 10, 2016 at 9:08 am

This website is very good in my school all the year 5 used it to make a paacute for there topic ‘Wacky races’ thank you for making it

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Egg Drop Project

Have you ever wondered how to safely drop an egg from a height without breaking it? Try the egg drop challenge and find out if you can safely drop an egg without breaking it.

There are many cool and easy science experiments for kids to do at home or as a part of their school project. One such simple science experiment is the egg drop project. The egg drop project is also a fun activity to teach children about the laws of motion and gravity.

Here is a step-by-step guide to dropping an egg without breaking it.

Materials You Need For The Egg Drop Project

• A Step-By-Step GuideTo Perform The Egg Drop Project

The Science Behind The Egg Drop Project

Other ideas to ace the egg drop project, why should you do the egg drop project.

The egg drop project does need a few materials. But they are inexpensive materials you can find at home or in a craft store.  You can make it more challenging for the kids and tell them to use as few materials as possible to perform the egg drop project. Here are the instructions to build an easy egg drop device, which will ensure a successful egg drop experiment. 

Here is a list of things you’ll need for an easy egg drop device to ace the egg drop challenge. 

• An extra-large sized Ziploc bag
• Bubble wrap
• Adhesive tape
• Packing peanuts
• A large empty plastic jar
• A carton of eggs

Download Egg Drop Project Printable

A Step-By-Step Guide To Perform The Egg Drop Project  

Here is a step-by-step guide to building the easiest egg drop device. This device ensures that the egg doesn’t break when it’s dropped from a height.

Place a raw egg in the middle of a sheet of bubble wrap. Roll the bubble wrap around the egg several times. Seal the bubble wrap with some adhesive tape to ensure that the egg is securely wrapped.

Fill the plastic jar halfway with packing peanuts and place the egg in the middle. Add the rest of the packing peanuts into the jar until it’s filled. This provides good padding for the egg.

Wrap the jar in several layers of bubble wrap on all sides and secure it with adhesive tape.

Then, place the bubble-wrapped jar in the Ziploc bag. Ensure that the bubble-wrapped jar fits neatly inside the Ziploc bag.

Step 5 – Bombs Away!

Now, drop this Ziploc bag from a height and see if the egg breaks.

What is gravity?

Gravity is a force of attraction that pulls on a mass. The earth’s gravitational force is what keeps us standing on the ground. The same gravity is the reason that fruits fall from trees. This is also the reason a ball or egg that is thrown in the air falls back to the ground.

Why does the egg break when it is thrown from a height?

When an egg hits the ground, a collision occurs between the eggshell and the Earth. When this happens, the energy and the momentum of the egg and the Earth are transferred and their properties are changed. Many forces are responsible for this change and these strong forces cause the eggshell to break as it hits the ground.

Why doesn’t the egg break in a successful egg drop device?

The egg drop device provides good padding, which cushions the egg. This is the same concept as airbags in vehicles, which protect the passengers in an accident. The bubble wrap, packing peanuts in the jar, and Ziploc bag protect the egg by absorbing the impact when it hits the ground.

This is not the only way to perform the egg drop experiment. Place some yarn, adhesive tape, paper straws, popsicle sticks, Ziploc bags, trash bags, pipe cleaners, cotton balls, glue, rubber bands and eggs in front of the child. Ask them to experiment with the materials and come up with egg drop experiment ideas. Then tell them to use these ideas to build a device that ensures the egg doesn’t break when dropped. The egg drop challenge also helps children think outside the box to create a structure that prevents the egg from breaking. Place the materials in front of your child or the team of kids. Then challenge them to build a structure that holds the egg and prevents it from breaking. 

The best way for children to learn and understand science and develop an interest in it is through experimenting. When kids learn new things in a practical way, they can retain the information for a much longer time. This also keeps them engaged and helps them to develop an interest in the subject they are learning. Learning science can sometimes be confusing and at times it can be boring. Gravity and motion are one such subjects that can sometimes be too complex for kids to understand. 

The egg drop project is a great way to help kids understand these concepts quickly. The answer is to build a simple structure around the egg so that it doesn’t break even when it is dropped from a height. But, it is not as simple as it sounds. You might end up sacrificing a few eggs for the egg drop project. The design can be simple or complicated, but it should decrease the energy transferred to kinetic energy from potential energy on the eggshell. 

It can be a team activity or you and your kid can do it together. Additionally, the egg drop experiment is a great way to test your child’s creativity, imagination, and strategizing skills. Additionally, the experiment also teaches them physics concepts like gravity, motion, momentum etc. 

Frequently Asked Questions on Egg Drop Project

What are the items required for egg drop project.

The items required for the egg drop project are eggs, bubble wrap, a plastic jar, packing peanuts, a Ziploc bag, and adhesive tape.

What do children learn from Egg Drop Project?

When kids perform Egg Drop Project they learn about gravity and its important properties. Also understanding the reason behind the breakage of eggs when dropped from a certain height.

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Egg Drop Challenge: An engineering based science project

Share this post:, a messy engineering challenge that fosters creativity, egg drop challenge for creative afternoons..

The egg drop project is one of those science projects that can really fluster kids. But it also really helps them think outside of the box and apply engineering skills. 

You don’t need much for the egg drop science project, not even a high place to drop from.

I’ve done this many times over the years, sometimes we have dropped the eggs from the roof of our local observatory, other times we just stood on a stool and dropped them onto a hard tile floor. 

Both times kids found the project incredibly challenging. Very few were successful on their first attempt, which meant they got some practice with the engineering process (ask, imagine, plan, create, improve).

It also gave us a chance to talk about failure, and how failure can teach you.

There are many constraints you can put on your egg drop challenge.

Size, weight, materials, use of parachutes etc can all scale this engineering challenge up for older learners, or down for younger learners. Two egg drop challenge examples are the egg drop challenge with your recycling bin, and the egg drop challenge using only straws and tape. Feel free to choose one, or make your own constraints!

Egg Drop Project Ingredients:

(for first time, or younger, learners)

• Full recycling bin
• Tall place to drop your eggs from

Egg Drop Challenge Ingredients:

(for experienced, or older, learners)

Tips for a successful egg drop project

• Think about how to buffer the impact
• Create a reusable project
• Use hot glue or duct tape

1. Buffer the egg’s impact

A successful egg drop project means your egg has no cracks on it whatsoever when you take it out. Eggs are fragile. Drop it on its side or its top/bottom with no protection and it will break. 

If your egg drop experiment has protection on only one portion of the egg, you need to make sure there is a way to guarantee how the egg will descend to the ground as you are leaving yourself exposed.

You also want to think about how your egg will be buffered. Just before the egg hits the ground it is moving fairly quickly.

When it stops suddenly you need to absorb all of that kinetic energy (the energy of movement), ideally not into your beautiful pristine egg.

What is one big way to absorb a lot of kinetic energy quickly?

Into things that squish. It takes energy to deform a material, so the more material you can put in front of the egg to absorb the kinetic energy through deforming the better chance you have of your egg surviving. Things that squish could include bubble wrap, fabric, cardboard, paper scraps, airbags, straws that break etc. 

When I did the egg drop experiment in 6th grade a long long time ago, I used a thick liquid to absorb a lot of the kinetic energy – peanut butter .

2. Create a reusable egg drop project.

Here’s the thing with engineering challenges – they rarely work the first time around. If your egg drop experiment can only be dropped once you won’t have the chance to go back, determine what part of the vehicle failed, and find a solution to make the next drop better. 

When I run programs with my kid’s classes the best way I do this is by telling them the egg has to be put in right before the drop. This prevents kids from wrapping them in duct tape – which has absolutely been tried and absolutely does not work. It also makes them think about where the egg will be secured.

Instead of building a project around the egg it helps the kids think about building the project for the egg.

A reusable experiment is also the key to making this a true engineering challenge. Kids should first ask what the goal is.

From there they imagine a solution to keep the egg safe, plan the project, and create it. Finally, they test it and go back through the loop. 

They ask why it didn’t work (or maybe why it did work), they imagine a solution to that new problem, plan the changes and create an updated vehicle.

Or maybe a new vehicle entirely if their egg drop project was an utter failure – but the goal is to edit and revise over a variety of trials, not just scrap it every time. You want to save the “trash it” method for projects that really didn’t work.

To be able to critically think about how the failure happened, and create a plan to fix it, you need an egg drop project that can be reused.

Trust me, having a project that you can edit and modify over a variety of trials really does impact their learning. It also helps them find success much faster.

3. Use hot glue or duct tape.

This is good advice for lots of engineering challenges. Why? Because liquid glues take a long time to cure, and they often aren’t nearly as strong as hot glue. Personally, I love hot glue for these types of projects because it is easy to apply, holds really well, is water resistant, and dries quickly. 

A good backup to hot glue is duct tape.

Duct tape probably got me my Ph.D. – that stuff can really stick. The problem with duct tape is that it can be hard to get two awkward pieces to join together at odd angles.

With your only resources coming from the recycling bin that can sometimes cause a little frustration. 

We want to keep all of their frustration for dealing with, and overcoming failure. 

Check out some of our other activities

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How to Drop an Egg Without It Breaking

Last Updated: June 19, 2024 Fact Checked

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 100 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,136,550 times. Learn more...

The egg drop is a classic science experiment, but it can still be pretty intimidating if you've never successfully completed it. To drop an egg without breaking it, you need to find a way to minimize the force of the impact and its effects on the delicate eggshell. The best ways to do this are to cushion the egg while also changing the way it drops and the way it lands.

Cushioning and Protecting the Egg

• Wrap the egg around with wet paper towels.
• Place the egg in one plastic bag and surround it with a puffed rice cereal.
• Fill four other small bags with the same cereal but do not put any eggs inside.
• Place all the bags inside of a larger resealable bag. Make sure that the bag with the egg in it is in the middle and all the other bags are packed around it from all sides.

• The simplest way to approach this is to get heavy-duty bubble wrap. Carefully wind the bubble wrap around the egg anywhere from two to five times, creating a thick cushion. Tie the ends of the bubble wrap with rubber bands to prevent the egg from slipping out through the top or bottom.
• If you do not have bubble wrap but do have other packing materials, like packing peanuts, inflated plastic packing packets, packing paper, cotton balls, or crumpled newspaper, you can use these materials to cushion the egg, as well. Spread a thick layer of your chosen packing material inside a box that is at least four to eight times larger than the egg. You should use enough material to fill the box halfway. Place the egg in the center of this cushion, then gently cover it with enough packing material to fill the rest of the box. Close the box and seal it with tape before the drop.

• The exact container you use does not necessarily make a difference, but there are a few things you should keep in mind. Make sure that the container is large enough so that you can cushion the egg around all sides, just in case the egg lands on its side instead of on the top or bottom of the container. You also need to make sure that you have enough marshmallows, popcorn, or similar soft food to fill the container completely. If not, the egg might move around inside.
• Marshmallows and popcorn both work so well because they contain so much air. You could try other types of food, as well, but the food you choose should either be very soft or very airy.
• Fill the container halfway with marshmallows. Place the egg in the center of your marshmallow nest, then carefully fill the rest of the container with marshmallows, as well. Make sure that the entire container is filled but do not press down on the egg as you pack the container.

• Place the egg inside of a tin can, plastic box, or other durable container. This container should be about five times as large as the egg.
• Fill the rest of the container with water and add a handful of salt. The egg will float better in salt water than in normal water. [3] X Research source Make sure that the entire container is filled with water and that it is well sealed before you drop it.

Changing the Way the Egg Drops

• Cut off one leg of the stockings. Place the egg inside this leg at the center of stocking. Tie the egg in place using rubber bands.
• Tightly pull the stocking leg diagonally through a box, extending it from one upper corner to one bottom corner. The egg should be positioned in the center of the box. Staple or otherwise hold the stocking in place.
• Note that your box can be made of nearly any material. It could be a cardboard or plastic box, or you could even construct a box frame out of metal clothes hangers.

• Place one heavy rock in the bottom of one styrofoam cup. The rock must be heavier than egg.
• Place six more styrofoam cups inside the bottom cup, on top of the rock.
• Place the egg inside the top cup.
• Fit one more cup gently on top of the egg to secure the egg's position.
• Tape the cups together along the sides so that the container will not fall apart during the fall.
• If the rock is heavy enough, the container should fall rock-side down and egg-side up. The styrofoam cups should also help cushion the blow.

• There are a few different parachutes you can try, but one of the easiest materials to use is a plastic shopping bag. Place the egg in a box, along with any cushioning you may choose to use. Attach a large plastic grocery bag to the top of the box using tape or a stapler. Make sure that the handles are near the sides of the box so that enough air can get inside the bag as the box drops.
• When you drop the box, make sure that the side you attach the parachute to is at the top. This will allow air to fill the bag and cause it to open up, reducing the speed of the descent as a result.

Changing the Landing Site

• If you cannot use an actual safety net, a simple alternative is to use a linen sheet. Stake the sheet at least 1 foot (30.5 cm) above the ground. When you drop the egg, make sure that it lands as close to the center of the sheet as possible.
• Similarly, you could also give the egg a cushion to fall into instead of a net. The principle at work here is the same. Fill a large, wide box with a thick layer of heavy-duty bubble wrap or similar packing materials. When you drop the egg, make sure that it lands on the cushion.

• For even better results, drop the egg after a good rainstorm so that the ground is very soft. Try to avoid dropping the egg during a drought, since soil tends to be much harder and more firmly packed in these conditions.

Community Q&A

• Mix as many of these elements together as possible for the egg drop. Slowing down egg down as it descends while distributing the force through cushioning can protect the fragile shell more effectively than either method can on its own. If you can change the surface the egg is dropped onto as well, the egg will be even safer. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If you are taking part in a class project or formal egg drop contest, review the rules thoroughly and follow them when designing your technique. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Drop the egg lightly. When dropping the egg, hold it out over the surface and simply let go. Do not toss it downward as you drop it since this will add more force and speed to the egg's descent, making it more likely to crack upon impact. The height will increase the impact if the egg drop if it doesn't have a cushion inside. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

• For the ice water method, use very cold water and small ice chunks, just enough to cover the egg. Leave in the fridge 10 minutes before dropping. The egg hardens but returns to liquid soon after, so drop quickly.
• Suspend the egg in the middle of a box with pantyhose, tying it securely. The hose stretches slightly to slow deceleration. Staple the hose ends to corners diagonally across from each other.
• Weigh down one side of a padded container with a heavy rock so it falls heavy side down, protecting the egg. Tape styrofoam cups together around the egg with the rock in the bottom cup.
• After cushioning the egg well, drop it onto a soft target like grass, dirt, bubble wrap, or a sheet secured above ground. Avoid hard surfaces that won't absorb impact force.

Things You'll Need

• Small resealable plastic bags
• Large resealable plastic bags
• Puffed rice cereal
• Nylon stockings
• Rubber bands
• Clothing hangers
• Styrofoam cups
• Heavy-duty bubble wrap
• Packing peanuts
• Inflated plastic packing packets
• Cotton balls
• Packing paper
• Marshmallows
• Plastic shopping bag or similar parachute
• Linen sheets

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://sciencing.com/successful-drop-contraptions-science-project-8423692.html
• ↑ https://sciencing.com/make-egg-survive-20foot-drop-8293632.html
• ↑ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/salty-science-floating-eggs-in-water/
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y6_K1R_1RY
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsnyl8llfH4
• ↑ https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/556927main_Adv-RS_Egg_Drop.pdf
• ↑ https://www.weareteachers.com/egg-drop-ideas/

About This Article

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. Then, put the wrapped egg in a box and seal it shut. Other airy materials, like marshmallows and popcorn, are also great for packing an egg to ensure it won’t break. To learn how to change the landing site so the egg won’t break, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Physics Egg-Drop Experiment Ideas

Egg Drop Experiment Solutions Without a Parachute

The egg-drop experiment is a physics class staple where aspiring mechanical engineers can test their design skills and creative thinking. Teachers often couch the project as a competition, giving prizes for effectiveness, innovation or artistic merits. Commonly, egg-drop projects include constraints on possible materials or construction methods. Check your design with your teacher or project leader before beginning to build.

Cushioned Box

One of the simplest egg drop designs is a cushioned box. A cubic frame, built out of straws, sticks or other firm materials, receives the brunt of the initial impact. The egg may be placed loose inside the box or attached to an interior structure. Inside the box, soft padding cushions the delicate cargo. Suitable cushioning materials include cotton balls, packing peanuts, bubble wrap or even crumpled paper. The necessary dimensions and quantity of padding depend on the materials used and the height of the drop.

Directional Shock Absorption

While some egg-drop contraptions are free to make contact in any direction, other shock-absorption designs are intended to land nose-first. These dart-shaped devices contain a large crumple zone to absorb the pressure of impact. Often, this design requires an oversize contraption which may be against the rules of your specific competition. To ensure that the dart flies in the correct orientation, attach an aerodynamic nose cone and fins. Weighting the end of the nose more heavily than the back of the dart helps control flight, but can increase the speed at landing.

Some egg-drop designs induce drag to slow the egg's fall and lessen the force of an impact. A common drag reducer is a parachute made of paper, cloth or plastic. The parachute may be a simple sheet or a complex design that allows for some air flow. Corkscrew patterns or perforated sheets control the egg's fall, preventing the device from flipping or tangling.

Suspension designs, although more complicated to execute correctly, have the potential to cushion a significant fall without padding or crumpling. Instead, rubber bands or other elastic materials hold the egg inside a firm outer structure. Upon impact the elastic stretches, absorbing the force and saving the egg.

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• NiemWorks: Art 13's Leonardo Da Vinci Egg-Drop Devices

About the Author

Mary MacIntosh has been writing professionally since 2007, contributing articles to "The California Tech" and serving as an editor for the "Biweekly Frink Digest." She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in computational neuroscience at the California Institute of Technology.

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