Scientific Method Proven Most Effective for Uncracked Egg Drops
In a groundbreaking study published in Communications Physics, a team of researchers led by Tal Cohen, an associate professor in the Sustainable Materials and Infrastructure department at MIT, have challenged a long-standing belief about the safety of dropping eggs.
The MIT egg drop challenge, a regular event where students use basic materials to construct contraptions to keep their eggs from breaking when dropped, has often recommended that the egg be dropped vertically to lower the risk of cracking. However, the new research suggests that dropping an egg horizontally is more likely to keep it intact.
The researchers, in their study, dropped 180 eggs in total, with 60 each dropped at three different heights (8, 9, and 10 millimeters) both vertically and horizontally onto a hard surface.
Their findings show that horizontal drops cause the egg to bend and deform like a shock absorber, absorbing energy better than a vertical impact, which concentrates force and causes breakage. This conclusion is supported by the observation that horizontally dropped eggs could compress more before breaking than the vertically dropped ones.
In contrast, a vertical drop applies a direct force on the egg's strongest axis, leading to breakage in many cases. The study observed this behavior under free fall conditions, showing horizontal eggs deform more effectively to dissipate energy and prevent damage.
Cohen notes that their research could help influence how people think about structures with thin shells protecting their inner contents. She compares the dynamic impact of an egg drop to the difference between a glass ball and a rubber ball, suggesting that toughness is an important factor in dynamic situations.
The research findings might not be world-changing, but they highlight the importance of considering toughness in dynamic situations. Cohen states that their findings illustrate how conventional wisdom can sometimes lead us astray, even in science classrooms.
The study, conducted after nearly 200 experiments, could potentially have applications in both nature and engineering. Initial experiments were inconclusive, so the team decided to start a formal and more extensive project to uncover this surprising fact about egg drops.
[1] Cohen, T., et al. (2022). Dynamic impact of eggs: Why horizontal drops are safer than vertical drops. Communications Physics, 5, 1-7. [4] Ibid.
- The groundbreaking study published in Communications Physics challenges a long-standing belief in science classrooms about the safety of dropping eggs.
- The MIT egg drop challenge, a test of physics and engineering skills, may need to reconsider the advice to drop eggs vertically, as the new findings suggest horizontal drops are safer.
- The research by Tal Cohen's team could have implications for structures with thin shells in areas like health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, technology, and gizmodo, where understanding dynamic impact is crucial.
- By demonstrating the importance of considering toughness in dynamic situations, this study on egg drops serves as a reminder not to blindly accept conventional wisdom in science, technology, or any field of study.
