Explaining Kinetic Energy

• The egg drop project is particularly relevant while covering potential and kinetic energy in a physical science class. If you are doing an egg drop in a class that does not specifically cover this topic, you should include a refresher course on what kinetic energy is and how it relates to the project. Focus on the effect kinetic energy has on a dropped object, what properties of an eggshell make it especially vulnerable to breakage when dropped, and how an understanding of kinetic energy relates to elements in everyday life.
  
  

Designing the Drop

• Most egg drops require a specific type of container to protect the egg or at least a specific maximum size. Quart milk or juice cartons are a popular choice as they are readily available and place the egg close enough to the point of impact where less efficient methods of protection will fail. Make sure you have clearly defined rules in place to maintain a sense of fairness. Parachutes are a common source of contention so decide early on whether or not you want to allow them. Have your students write a description of their device as they build it, along with a rationale for why they think it will work based on their understanding of kinetic energy.
  
  

Performing the Drop

• The most important part of the experiment is making sure each egg is subjected to the same force. Throwing the eggs into the air is not recommended as it is difficult to ensure that each egg is falling from the same height. For best results, drop the eggs from a second-story window onto a firm surface. Rope off the area and place signs warning people of falling eggs. If you have the proper drop sites, additional drops from third- or fourth-floor stories may be carried out. When all the eggs have been dropped, collect them for analysis.
  
  

The Lab Report

• Have each student write a report analyzing the success or failure of the device, and why it succeeded or failed. Discussing the various designs with the entire class is helpful but make sure the students are not made to feel like failures if their eggs broke. Make it clear that the lab is being graded on the quality of the analysis and understanding, not on how well they were able to protect their eggs. In particular, you should lead the class to understand why certain materials were able to insulate the eggs from the kinetic energy transferred, during impact, while others failed. Reiterate the links between this experiment and the real-life problems that science faces in dealing with kinetic energy.