Eggs are marvelous things. Many wonderful things come from eggs. Many different animals hatch from eggs. There are many different colored and different sized eggs. They can also be good to eat.
Eggs are also marvelous because of their shape. They are very strong and weak at the same time. This week your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to experiments with eggs!
There are three experiments listed below: Egg Dip, Shell Strength, and Egg Drop. You will discover the physical properties of egg shells. Material scientists test a variety of materials to determine how much damage they can take and how strong different materials are. Choose to do one, two or all three egg material science experiments! Remember, your goal is to discover something new! You will get BrainPower Points for EACH experiment that you write up on a Mission Report.
If you accidently break an egg during these experiments. Make sure to wash your hands with lots of soap and water.
Eggs are also marvelous because of their shape. They are very strong and weak at the same time. This week your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to experiments with eggs!
There are three experiments listed below: Egg Dip, Shell Strength, and Egg Drop. You will discover the physical properties of egg shells. Material scientists test a variety of materials to determine how much damage they can take and how strong different materials are. Choose to do one, two or all three egg material science experiments! Remember, your goal is to discover something new! You will get BrainPower Points for EACH experiment that you write up on a Mission Report.
If you accidently break an egg during these experiments. Make sure to wash your hands with lots of soap and water.
Science Buddies please help guide the activity, set up the experiment, and make sure to practice safe science! Please make sure that your child keeps their hands away from their T-zone (eyes, nose mouth) whenever experimenting.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>TEST 1<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Test 1: Egg Dip
Things you Need to Get and Assemble
Things to Do and Notice
Things to Record (Write and Draw)
Clean Up
Make sure everything is washed with soap and water. If the tube got dirty, please discard it.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>TEST 2 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Test 2: Shell Strength
Things you Need to Get and Assemble
Things to Do and Notice
Things to Record (Write and Draw)
Clean Up
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>TEST 3<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Test 3: Egg Drop
Things you Need to Get and Assemble
Things to Do and Notice
Things to Record (Write and Draw)
Clean Up
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>EXTRA<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Take a look at this experiment. "Walking on Eggshells" Try it if you dare!
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>TEST 1<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Test 1: Egg Dip
Things you Need to Get and Assemble
- Cardboard tubes (toilet paper tubes or cut paper towel tubes work great!)
- a pie plate
- a tall drinking glass
- water
Things to Do and Notice
- Once you get good at this, try different sized tubes and glasses to see if it makes a difference.
Things to Record (Write and Draw)
- Were you able to get it to work the first time?
- Draw and label your set-up.
- What technique worked best for you?
- Do different liquids work in the same way?
Clean Up
Make sure everything is washed with soap and water. If the tube got dirty, please discard it.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>TEST 2 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Test 2: Shell Strength
Things you Need to Get and Assemble
- 4-5 eggs
- a plate or bowl
- a hand towel
- a pile of books
Things to Do and Notice
- Grab an egg in your hand. Try to crush it in your fist. (Use these directions)
- Crack each egg in half. Put the yolks and whites in a container and store for future use. You can use these in a recipe that uses eggs (like chocolate chip cookies) or make scrambled eggs!
- Separate the shells into pointy side and round side. Set the pointy half of the shells aside and use the rounded sides first.
- Place a towel on a flat surface and position the round part of the eggs on top to make a square, with the dome side of the egg on top.
- Add books one by one on top of the egg shells so that the weight is distributed evenly.
Things to Record (Write and Draw)
- How many books do you think the eggs can hold before they crack?
- Is one side of the egg stronger than the other? Is one part weaker than another?
- How do you think egg shells can protect the insides of an egg? Why doesn't the egg get crushed by the mother bird when she sits on them?
Clean Up
- Make sure to wash your hands and all surfaces well and use a disinfectant spray to clean up any broken egg.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>TEST 3<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Test 3: Egg Drop
Things you Need to Get and Assemble
- A variety of materials that could be used for packing and wrapping things.
Look around your house to see what you can use. Recycle things. This is a list of ideas, but you can use whatever you have. Possible things to use: computer paper, newspaper, napkins (cloth and or paper), bubble wrap, a cardboard box zip top baggies, packing peanuts, coffee filters, paper or plastic cups, masking tape, straws, string or yarn - a meter stick or tape measure
Things to Do and Notice
- Your goal is simple, design and build a system that will protect an egg from a 1 metre (3.3 feet) drop. Eggs that smash or crack fail the test while eggs that survive without a scratch pass!
- Think about your design. You need to create something that can absorb the energy the egg gathers as it accelerates towards the ground. What will happen to an egg if it is dropped on a hard surface? a soft surface? A good surface to try is your bathtub or a dishpan on your driveway. You and your science buddy need to figure out a good spot. Just make sure to do all the tests in the same spot.
- Make as many different types as your Science Buddy will let you try.
Things to Record (Write and Draw)
- Draw or take pictures of your designs.
- What worked with your designed and what did not?
- How many times did you have to try before you "saved" an egg from breaking?
Clean Up
- Make sure to wash your hands and all surfaces well and use a disinfectant spray to clean up any broken egg.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>EXTRA<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Take a look at this experiment. "Walking on Eggshells" Try it if you dare!