My partner, Sean Lee, and I, competed against the class last week in the Second Annual Egg Drop Challenge. We used an awesome elevator design, which involved a plank that leaned over the edge, taped it down and added counterbalances to the other side, so it would not fall, hurting someone. It also involved a long piece of string, a small cardboard box, more rocks, a ton of dominoes, a lot of duct tape, and socks. We used the box as a container for the egg, and inside we had a sock as a cushion on the bottom of the egg, and we used the other sock for a top cushion. We used some of the dominoes inside the box with the egg in order to create more weight in the box. On the other side, we used duct tape to make a counterbalance with rocks, slightly heavier, probably 10-15 grams more, than the box with the egg. We used the string to attach the two parts (the box with the egg/counterbalance) and then we let it go on the plank, and it slowly, safely, and surely lowered down to the ground without the egg breaking. We earned a lot of achievements, listed below.
Achievements:
- Brainstorming:
Create a sketch of one possible solution.- Create a sketch of another possible solution.
- Create a sketch of a third possible solution.
Use a decision matrix
| Size | Weight | Safety | Speed (slow) | Accuracy | Total |
Parachute | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
Elevator | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
Wings and Parachute | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 11 |
- Material Preparation:
Generate a list of materials required for build day- Document a plan to ensure materials are brought in on block day
- Sean Lee will bring in the egg, cardboard box, foam/bubble wrap, and masking tape. I will bring in the wood plank, rocks/counterbalances, and the long string
- Size:
- Your materials fit inside a printer paper box
- Weight:
- Your materials weigh less than 500 grams
- Drop Accuracy:
You hit the butcher paper!
You hit inside the third ring!
You hit inside the second ring!
You hit inside the first ring!
You hit the Bullseye!
Drop Time:
Your solution takes more than 2 seconds to hit the target!
Your solution takes more than 3 seconds to hit the target!
Your solution takes more than 4 seconds to hit the target!
Your solution takes more than 5 seconds to hit the target!
Egg Resilience:
Your egg didn't break in any way! (awarded three times)
Your egg didn't break in any way! (awarded three times)
Your egg didn't break in any way! (awarded three times)
- Calculations:
- Used arithmetic to calculate the amount of weight needed for the counterbalance
- Used geometry in the size and measurements in the box
- Used algebra to find out how long it would take for the box to reach the ground
- Other:
- Helped set up the Bullseys
In Total: 24 Achievements
Here is our product in action:
