Alexandra Middle School’s

Egg Drop Challenge

Project:
The Egg-Drop project asks you (the student) to build a container that will keep a
raw egg from cracking when dropped from a specific height (which will increase
to determine the safest designed device).

Objectives:
• Design an egg safety container
• Evaluate the egg safety container
• Communicate the process of design modification

Challenge:
Is to build a container to protect a raw egg that is dropped from at least 5 meters
and make sure that it remains undamaged. If it helps, consider the egg to be a
human being that would not liked to be harmed upon reentry from outer space.
You will need to experiment with different designs to determine maximum safety,
and keep a record of:
• The different designs your group created
• Why you chose those designs

Construction:
Phase 1: The Design
When you are designing this apparatus, keep in mind:
• The container must be protective
o The raw egg inside must not even crack at the first drop.

Phase 2: Testing
To make sure your container will protect the egg, complete some practice drops.
The project will have a lot of trial and error and it is highly doubtful that you will
succeed in your first try. You will most likely have to change your design or over
and design a new contains.
Phase 3: Actual Drop
First off, be fully prepared and bring all items to the drop site. Eggs will be
provided by the teacher at the drop site so there is no way that a group can
change the egg before the drop. The group should bring a small repair kit for
their container, for example:
• Tape
• Scissors
• Rubber gloves (if semi-solids were used)
• etc…

Design Tips:
Dos:
• Use light and strong materials
• Use simple devices
• Test the device many times before the actual project due date
• Bring a repair kit to the drop site

Don'ts:

• Don't overcomplicate the design

• Don't use heavy materials if at all possible
• Don't restrict your planning time till the last day of the project.

Sharing:
It is important that each group shares with the entire class about the process they
went through to get to their final safety container. This sharing can be done in
various ways, students can:
• Photograph each design and modification and present these pictures
to the class so that in the future, other students may be able to view
the video and begin the process of adding to other students' design
principles
• Create a video on the design of their containers so that in the future,
other students may be able to view the video and begin the process of
adding to other students' design principles
• Choose their own presentation approach as long as they have
instructor approval
Grading:
The grade each group receives for this project will be a combination of the grade
they receive from their presentation (30%) and the grade they receive from the
actual Egg Drop Challenge (70%). The break down for the Egg Drop Challenge
portion:
• If the group’s egg does not withstand the first drop, they will receive the
grade of a 50%
o If they participated with minimal effort, the Instructor will give a
failing grade
• If the egg does survive the first drop, the group will receive a grade 70%
• After the first drop, the grade given will also increase as the height
increases:
o 5.5 meters – 75%
o 6.0 meters – 80%
o 6.5 meters – 85%
o 7.0 meters – 90%
o 7.5 meters – 95%
o 8.0 meters – 100%

Presentation
Group Members: Egg Drop Mark:
Mark:
1. Comments: • 5.5 meters – 75% ____

• 6.0 meters – 80% ____

2.
• 6.5 meters – 85% ____

3. • 7.0 meters – 90% ____

• 7.5 meters – 95% ____

4.
• 8.0 meters – 100% ____

5. /30 /70

Final Project Mark: /30 + /70 = /100

Project Comments:
 Egg Drop Challenge

RULES
• The egg and its contraption must hit the ground
• The egg and the project must weigh less than 500 grams
o The average egg weighs 50 grams
• Only raw, store bought chicken eggs; size medium or larger may be used
o You may NOT soak the egg in vinegar
• Your egg project must fit on a regular size sheet of paper
o Note that it may be 3 ft high and still fit on the paper
• Your egg project must have a small opening to see a portion of the egg
• You may bring in your project early to weigh it
o If your project is overweight you may take it home and make any
necessary alterations
o If you wait until the last minute and your project is overweight, your
group will lose 10% of your final mark for the project
• Once a project is started, it may not be touched by anyone other than the
members of the group
o Please have your name and class period written on it
• Once a project has hit the ground it will your responsibility to retrieve your
egg and show it to the score keeper for scoring.