The Egg Drop Challenge: Engineering a Solution
Educational and Fun Activities
Written by Gregg Payne
09 September 2024
đź•“ 4 min
The Egg Drop Challenge is a classic science and engineering activity that challenges children to design a contraption that will protect an egg from breaking when dropped from a height. It’s a fun, hands-on way to introduce kids to the concepts of physics, engineering, and problem-solving. Whether you’re doing this at home or in the classroom, this experiment offers endless opportunities for creativity and learning. Let’s dive into the Egg Drop Challenge and explore how to build a solution that will keep your egg safe!
1. What You’ll Need
- Raw eggs (have a few on hand in case of breaks)
- Recyclable materials like cardboard, paper, plastic bags, straws, cotton balls, or bubble wrap
- Tape, string, or rubber bands
- Scissors
- A ruler or measuring tape (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Define the challenge: The goal is simple—design and build a structure or device that will protect your egg when it is dropped from a height (usually around 1-2 metres). The egg must survive the fall without cracking.
- Gather materials: Gather a variety of materials that your child can use to build their egg protector. Encourage them to think about which materials will absorb shock or cushion the egg.
- Design the solution: Ask your child to sketch out their design or talk through their ideas. Will they create a parachute to slow the egg’s fall? Will they build a cushioned container? Encourage creative thinking!
- Build the structure: Using the materials provided, help your child build their egg protection device. Be sure to test it by placing the egg inside and seeing if it fits snugly and securely.
- Test the design: Drop the egg from a height (you can use a step stool, a chair, or even a balcony) and observe what happens. Did the egg survive the fall? Why or why not? Discuss the results and encourage your child to make any necessary adjustments to improve their design.
- Try again: If the egg cracked, don’t worry! This is a perfect opportunity to improve the design based on what went wrong. Test different materials or structures until you find a solution that works.
2. The Science Behind It
The Egg Drop Challenge is a great way to teach children about physics and engineering. Here are some of the key scientific concepts at play:
- Gravity: Gravity is the force that pulls the egg toward the ground. The heavier the egg protector, the faster it will fall unless something is done to slow it down (like using a parachute).
- Impact force: When the egg hits the ground, it experiences a force that can cause it to crack. The goal is to design something that will reduce this impact, either by absorbing the shock or distributing the force over a larger area.
- Cushioning: Soft materials like cotton balls or bubble wrap can absorb some of the impact, keeping the egg safe by slowing down the force of the fall.
This challenge also introduces children to the engineering design process, which involves planning, building, testing, and improving their designs.
For more hands-on activities that combine science with problem-solving, check out our post Crystal Garden: Growing Salt Crystals.
3. Tips for Success
- Encourage creativity: Let your child experiment with different ideas and designs. Sometimes the most unexpected solutions can work the best!
- Try adding a parachute: A simple parachute made from a plastic bag or piece of cloth can slow the descent of the egg and reduce the impact force.
- Keep it light: The lighter the egg protector, the less force it will have when it hits the ground. Encourage your child to think about materials that provide cushioning without adding too much weight.
4. Variations of the Egg Drop Challenge
- Limited materials: To make the challenge more difficult, try limiting the materials your child can use, such as only straws and tape, or only paper and rubber bands. This encourages creative problem-solving with fewer resources.
- Height challenge: After your child has successfully protected their egg from a lower height, increase the difficulty by dropping it from a higher place.
- Egg Drop Competition: If you’re doing this in a group or classroom setting, turn it into a competition! See who can design the lightest egg protector that still keeps the egg intact.
Final Thoughts
The Egg Drop Challenge is an exciting way to introduce children to the principles of physics and engineering while encouraging creativity and critical thinking. Whether they succeed on the first try or need a few attempts, this activity helps kids learn from their mistakes and improve their designs through experimentation. Plus, it’s a great way to have fun while learning!
If your child enjoys activities like this, our Science of Sound holiday camps offer even more hands-on STEM-based challenges that inspire curiosity and creativity. Discover more about our upcoming camps and workshops here, and give your child the opportunity to explore science in a fun, engaging way!
