Need Ideas for an 8th grade project

[bebeangel]

Hi all,

One of the girls that I tutor just asked for help with her science project. It is called "Prevent Humpty Dumpty from breaking" The goal is to drop an egg which is inside a cardboard box (3" up to 5" diameter) from 25ft or more. Rules are no parachute, no packing bubbles, no styrofoam, and nothing can be done to the egg (ie, no cooking of egg).

we have ran out of ideas and would really appreciate any help.

thank you in advance.

[Mike]

Could you use some sort of plastic tupperware with a lot of water? I don't know, just a suggestion.

Are those all of the guidelines?

[Lemon]

Welcome to TechIMO....


I would try packing the box with wet sponges.

[Sweet]

Jello?

[geekgrl]

Originally posted by Lemon
Welcome to TechIMO....


I would try packing the box with wet sponges.

Good idea. She said nothing could be done to the egg, but it didn't say that you couldn't alter the box.

[caddmannq]

Jello. Fill the box with jello, making sure the egg is in the center with rubber bands or something.

[Mortis]

Not sure what your rules are, but I had to do something similar way back when- but only from 8 feet. I noticed you said that you guys couldnt do anything to the egg (we used a small grade a egg- stronger, not a jumbo- not sure if this was stipulated for you), but you can do anything to the containers... hehe. I used a series of tupperware containers and Milk (because of milks properties vs other liquids). If you dont have restraints with this, try something like one container inside another, inside another.... so on, all with Milk inside of them to act as the cushion.

Hope this makes sense. Each container had about an inch of space squared all the way around including the actual container teh egg was in. I used 3 containers (BTW- use 100 percent milk, not fat free, skim....)

GoodLuck! Sounds Like Fun!!!

[MegalosSkylaki]

Drop the egg on by tail.

I'll curvalinear it around to my Paws.

And Voila POOCHED EGG !

[vass0922]

the direction the egg is pointed when it hits bottom will also help
If it hits from the bottom it should hit at a stronger point, than if it were hit on the side (cracks easier from the side than from teh bottom)
mortis, you won't completely fill the container with milk would you?
Seems like it'd be a better cushion if the milk were allowed to work like a shock absorber and giving the milk room to move.
Hmmm any of that makes sense at all?

[Graham]

I saw something on TV years ago, they were demonstarting some new packaging. The egg was just put inside the box loose, the protection came from the lining which was just foam rubber (not polystyrene, (styrofoam)).
Another idea, ist to hold the egg to a piece of card with clingfilm (saran?) and then mount the card across the middle of the box supported with rubber bands, all the flexible bits would take the shock form the fall.
Remember in cars they use crumple zones, you could try something similar, or a combination.
You will need to expriment, wrap the eggs in clingfilm, then you can still use them for eating.

G