Max's Egg Protector Project

 

 

 

 

In this experiment I was tasked with creating an egg protector/prototype and design that would allow an egg to be dropped in multiple trials from a height of 15 meters. The goal of this experiment was to make sure that my design protected the egg from sustaining damage during the multiple drops. During the experiment I tested my prototype and final design to see which design is the safest and most reliable. My goal is to see if my final prototype can withstand 18 furious drops while protecting the egg.

 

 

Documentation of the original prototype 

 

 

Pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blueprint of Original Prototype: 

 

 

 

  

Results for Original Prototype:( Data Table)

 

	Drop 1	Drop 2	Drop 3
Trial 1	S	S	S
Trial 2	S	S	B
Trail 3	S	S	S
Trial 4	B	S	S

 

Key S=Egg safely landed without being damaged B=Egg sustained damage/broke

 

 

 Experimental Design                                                                          

 

 

Problem Question:                        

                   

How does the amount of sponge and bubble wrap affect the amount of damage to the egg?

 

Hypothesis:

 

If the amount of sponge and bubble wrap used to protect the egg increases then the damage to the egg will decrease because the sponge and other materials absorbs the amount of energy created from the egg being dropped thus safely protecting the egg upon impact from any damage.

 

Procedures:

 

1. Gather materials.

2. Build egg protector A.

3. Measure 5m.

4. Drop egg protector A.

5. Examine & record.

6. Repeat steps 2-5 5 more times.

7. Repeat investigationwith egg Part B.

 

Materials: 

   

• eggs (2 dozen)
• Egg Protector for Group 1
• Egg Protector for Group 2
• Ladder
• Duct Tape
• Sponges
• Tape Measure
• Bubble Wrap
• Styrofoam

 

Experimental Results: (Data Table)

 

Group 1 prototype is without         

Group 1	Drop 1	Drop 2	Drop 3
Trial 1	S	S	S
Trial 2	S	B	S
Trial 3	B	B	S
Trial 4	S	B	S
Trial 5	B	S	S
Trial 6	B	S	S

 

Group 2 prototype is with bubble wrap  

Group 2	Drop 1	Drop 2	Drop 3
Trial 1	S	S	S
Trial 2	S	S	S
Trial 3	S	B	S
Trial 4	S	S	S
Trial 5	S	S	S
Trial 6	B	S	S

 

 

Key S= Egg safely landed without being damaged B= Egg sustained damage/broke

 

 

Analysis: (Graph)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion: 

 

In this investigation, it was hypothesized that if the amount of sponge and bubble wrap decreases then the amount of damage to the egg increases. My hypothesis was supported. According to the data, as the bubble wrap and sponge increased the amount of damage decreased. When I used 2 layers of bubble wrap my egg was safe for 16 trials. The data shows that it had more cracks with no bubble wrap than with bubble wrap.  This is clearly shown in my data that without bubble wrap the egg broke 6 times. When bubble wrap is introduced the egg only broke twice. In this investigation, the sources of error was that there wasn't enough bubble wrap and that sometimes I dropped the egg on its belly instead of its side. The information learned from this investigation could be used by... people that make helmets, safety devices for cars, packaging, and architects. The next logical question that could be asked is could you use a different sponge?

 

 

Documentation of the Final Design 

 

 

Blueprint and Rationale for final design:

 

Blueprint

 

 

Rationale

 

I chose this design because when we tested it the design with the bubble wrap proved that it was the safest and most reliable design.  It effectively protected the egg. By adding the bubble wrap it was able to absorb the energy generated by the egg failing and protected it better then without the bubble wrap.  During the trials this was demonstrated when the egg only broke twice as compared to several times without the bubble wrap.

 

Pictures of Final Design in Action:

 

 

 

 

 

Reflection of the Design Process

 

 

Answers to Reflection Questions:

 

Question 1:  Was your final design more effective than your original prototype? How do you know? (graphical representation)

 

Answer to question 1. My final design was more effective than my original prototype. When I tested my prototype without bubble wrap the egg cracked 6 times; however by adding the bubble wrap the egg only broke two times.  This is reflected in my graph below.

 

Graphical representation to support question 1 

Amount of Damage

Group 2	Drop 1	Drop2	Drop3	Scale:
Trial 1	S	S	S	S=Safe
Trail 2	S	S	S	B=Broken
Trail 3	S	B	S
Trail 4	S	S	S
Trail 5	S	S	S
Trail 6	B	S	S

 

Question 2: What did you learn from your experimination that helped you construct your final design

 

Answer to question 2. I learned that kinetic energy plays a big role in the dropping of the egg, and that by using bubble wrap as a variable it would help absorb the force of the falling egg.

 

Question 3: What variables did you try to keep constant when attempting to accomplish the challenge?

 

Anwer to question 3. I tried to keep the same size egg, distance the egg was dropped from, surface the egg made impact with, the way in which I dropped the egg prototype, and the number of trials.

 

Question 4: After researching scientific phenomena related to this challenge, would you make any changes to your final design if you were given the opportunity?

 

Answer to quetion 4. Yes, I would have adjusted my prototype so that it didn’t weigh as much and so that there wouldn’t be as much of a kinetic force on my prototype.  I learned that materials like the bubble wrap help distribute the energy generated by the egg falling so addtional materials to absorb that energy would be helpful.

 

Question 5:  What did you learn from participating in this design process?

 

Answer to quetion 5. I learned that kinetic energy and the weight of the prototype has a big impact on the outcome of the project and that materials like bubble wrap helped absorb the energy and force of the egg.

 

Question 6: What did you like the most about the design process?

 

Answer to question 6. I like building the design and dropping my egg protector from 15 feet in the air, and learning about force and kinetic energy.

 

Question 7:   What was the most challenging part of the design process?

 

Answer to question 7. The most challenging part of the design was thinking what my prototype should look like, and what materials I should use for my Prototype?

 

 

Graphical Comparision of Results from both the Original Prototype and the Final Design:

 

 

 

 

 

Scientific Explanation:

 

In my experiment I used bubble wrap and foam in the form of a sponge as variables in my final design.  As the egg falls in my experiment the egg builds kinetic energy.  This means that as the motion of the egg picks up so does the speed of the egg.  The bubble wrap and foam sponge used in my final design are meant to spread the impact of the force from a single point to all over the surface of the egg.  This same concept is used in bullet-proof vests. The kinetic energy is not stopped by the vest; however it spreads the energy over a larger surface protecting the person wearing the vest from the bullet.  This  same thought is used in my egg drop experiment and the use of bubble wrap has the same effect of absorbing the objects energy.  

 

Documentation of research sources:

 

Sources: 

1. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100919054659AAdt2QZ

2. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/ke.html

3. http://teachertech.rice.edu/Participants/louviere/Newton/law1.html

4. http://ehow.com/info_10057789_science-behind-egg-drop-experiment.html

5. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/ke.html