Experiment: Thanksgiving Egg Drop

Looking for something to keep the family busy while the Thanksgiving feast is cooking?

If so, Jason Lindsey with Hooked on Science has an idea and all you need are a few ingredients from around the house.

Materials

* transparent glass

* water

* egg

* pie pan

* toilet paper roll

Istructions

STEP 1: Fill the glass three quarters of the way with water.

STEP 2: Place the pie pan on top of the transparent glass. Make sure the pie pan is in the center of the transparent glass.

STEP 3: Stand the toilet paper roll in the center of the pie pan.

STEP 4: Place the egg on the toilet paper roll.

STEP 5: Quickly hit the pie pan with enough force so the pan and toilet paper roll fly out of the way.

Explanation

As the pie pan and toilet paper roll fly in one direction, the egg resists this change, and gravity then pulls the egg into the transparent cup of water. Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist change in motion.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website www.hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments.