Hooked on Science: Thanksgiving egg drop

Materials

• Tall, transparent glass
• Water
• Eggs
• Pie pan
• Toilet paper tube

Instructions

• STEP 1: Fill the drinking glass three-fourths of the way with water.
• STEP 2: Place the pie pan on top of the glass. Make sure the pan is in the center of the glass.
• STEP 3: Stand the toilet paper tube in the center of the pan.
• STEP 4: Place the egg on the tube.
• STEP 5: Gently hit the pan so the pan and tube fly out of the way, and observe. What happened? Why?
• STEP 6: Place the pan on top of the glass. Make sure the pan is in the center of the glass.
• STEP 7: Stand the toilet paper tube in the center of the pan.
• STEP 8: Place another egg on the tube.
• STEP 9: Hit the pan with a greater force so the pan and tube fly out of the way, and observe. What happened? Why? Compare the effects of gently hitting the pan versus hitting the pan with a greater force on the motion of the egg. Provide evidence of the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of the egg.

Explanation

When hit with enough force, the egg will fall into the glass. As the pie pan and toilet paper tube fly in one direction, the egg resists the change, and gravity pulls the egg into the glass.