This article is part of the following topics:   Science

Egg-Drop Project Introduces Engineering

If the same egg is placed inside an egg carton and dropped, it’s still likely to break. But it is possible to build a container that will protect the egg. Here’s how:

1. Explain the challenge to your child. Set up a place to drop eggs. (Cover it with an old shower curtain or a big piece of plastic...just in case.)

2. Let your child make some practice drops of other items—a ping pong ball, a baseball, a rolled sock, an empty shoebox. Observe how impact affects different items.

3. Now challenge your child to use common household items to construct a drop-proof container. Let your child choose. (You may eventually suggest a shoebox, tape, and some padding.)

   

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4. Let your child start to construct the protective package. Encourage him to try some tests before you schedule the egg drop.

5. Inform your child that as a scientist, he should think about what he’ll do if the experiment fails. Scientists often learn more from “failures” than from successes.

6. Make the actual egg drop a big occasion. Invite the whole family.

This challenge can introduce your child to the real work of a mechanical engineer.

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