Unit Summative Project: Egg Drop Momentum Challenge

Your mission is to design and build a device that protects a raw egg during a stairwell drop. This is not just an engineering challenge—it is a physics investigation into how momentum changes during a collision. Your design must demonstrate how increasing collision time reduces force and protects the egg.

Big Idea

When your egg falls, it gains momentum. When it hits the ground, that momentum must change. The egg breaks when that change happens too quickly. A successful design increases the time of collision, reducing the force experienced by the egg.

Concepts Assessed
  • Linear Momentum
  • Impulse-Momentum Theorem (Primary Focus)
  • Conservation of Momentum
  • Collisions
Engineering Design Challenge

Build a device that protects a raw egg from breaking when dropped down a stairwell.

Constraints
  • Maximum size: 30 cm in any direction
  • Maximum mass: 200 g
  • No parachutes or gliders
  • Egg must be accessible for inspection
  • Must survive one official drop
Materials
  • Straws, tape, string
  • Paper, cardboard
  • Cotton, foam, plastic
  • Rubber bands, cups
Success Criteria
  • Egg remains unbroken
  • Design clearly reduces impact force
  • Physics explanation matches design
Physics Analysis (Core of the Project)
Impulse-Momentum Theorem

Your design must show how increasing the time of impact reduces the force on the egg. The momentum of the system changes during the collision, and spreading that change over a longer time protects the egg.

Momentum

Describe the momentum of the egg-device system just before impact.

Impulse

Explain how your design increases stopping time and reduces force.

Momentum Transfer

Explain where the momentum goes during the collision.

Collision Type

Describe whether the collision is elastic or inelastic and why.

Final Submission
  • Design sketch with labeled features
  • Photo of final build
  • Mass and materials list
  • Drop results and observations
  • Written physics analysis
  • Reflection and redesign explanation
Analysis Questions
  1. What was the momentum of your system before impact?
  2. How did your design reduce the force on the egg?
  3. How does impulse explain the success or failure of your design?
  4. Where did the momentum go during impact?
  5. Was your collision elastic or inelastic?
  6. What would you change to improve your design?
Grading Breakdown
CategoryPoints
Design & Constraints20
Impulse Explanation (Primary)30
Momentum & Collisions20
Analysis & Reflection20
Performance10
Hairline Fracture-5
Destruction of Egg-10
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