Egg Drop Advice [AP] | Page 1 | Science | Guild Forums

Tyzzy

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Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:02 pm

Erm, not sure if this is really "advanced physics" but it is for my AP Physics class. xD; S'a bit basic:

We're holding an egg drop competition on May 5.
The materials we can use are styrofoam and toothpicks.
Nothing else at all, this means adhesives or anything of the like.
Also, our device cannot have a mass over 25 grams.
We'll be dropping it at least 30 ft.

So I'd like some tips for the project if I may. :]
Should I rely on using a lot of styrofoam as a shock absorber?
Or should I go for the helicopter type design for rotational energy?

Any tips for either method I approach?

If you've any experience, it'd be great to know what does and what does not work specifically. =o
I don't have much time to devote to experimenting with different designs so I'm trying to get this down in as few attempts as possible.

Thank you very much for your time.
<3

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 1:50 pm

I know for a fact that Aar000n3y has a bit of experience with Egg Drop.

I'd suggest using a lot of styrofoam on the bottom of it as a shock absorber but let it have as much area as possible, making a sort of bowl like shape. I can contact Aar000n3y to ask him to post.

plopperscioly_in_USSR
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Aar000n3yTheL000n3y
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 4:10 pm

Well, I've done this with the device sitting on the ground before and dropping the egg into it, but not having a device around the egg. But I'm sure I can still help a little.

Okay, so how much styrofoam do you get? How much does all of it together weight? And you probably get it all in a solid block, right? And it's probably packing foam too?

I'd probably go with using a slow falling (helicopter-type thingy) system, and have it absorb some shock. Although with the helicopter thingy, I'd be worried about it flipping over, so if you don't want to spend too much time, you might not want to use it as your main system, or not use it at all.

And what other rules are there about it?

Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 4:56 pm

Try getting as much surface area as possible on the part you want to be landing. then use the toothpicks as a sort of cage to keep the egg in place. Thats what I would try. Good luck!

Pyrgusfinn
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Tyzzy

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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:13 pm

Wow, thanks everyone. :]

And as far as the rules go, it's pretty much everything I already stated.
We can only use styrofoam and toothpicks.
Size as in volume and such doesn't matter.
But it has to be less than 25 grams.
[Without the egg >>;]

I can use as much styrofoam as I want and in any form. xD;
[Though keep in mind I can't exceed the mass limit.]
So I could go get styrofoam cups or even packing peanuts.
He didn't limit us to any specific thing.

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 4:04 pm

Sentaji

Wow, thanks everyone. :]

And as far as the rules go, it's pretty much everything I already stated.
We can only use styrofoam and toothpicks.
Size as in volume and such doesn't matter.
But it has to be less than 25 grams.
[Without the egg >>;]

I can use as much styrofoam as I want and in any form. xD;
[Though keep in mind I can't exceed the mass limit.]
So I could go get styrofoam cups or even packing peanuts.
He didn't limit us to any specific thing.

Okay, without using toothpicks, it should be pretty easy to stay under 25 grams.
I would suggest getting a chunk of weakish styrofoam, and carving it unto a bowl. Just make sure it will break at the top. To make it stable, get some foam cups, put one over the egg (which would somehow sit on top of the bowl), and from the top of that cup, attach fins cut from the side of a cup. If you have enough weight left over, you can try making those fins into wings that will spin, just make sure they have toothpick supports.

Aar000n3yTheL000n3y
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