Protecting a Dropped Egg Transcript

Question

A STUDENT is sitting at a table with an egg and two contraptions.

STUDENT: I’m making a device to keep an egg safe when I drop it. You may have done this experiment a couple of years ago when you were a kid. But now we have the physics to explain what’s happening.

The STUDENT holds up an egg.

STUDENT: When an egg hits the table, it goes through a change in momentum. That’s the product of mass and velocity. It’s also the product of force and time of the collision. This is the equation we care about. If we increase the amount of time it takes for the change in momentum to change, then we can reduce the amount of force.

The STUDENT stands up and drops the egg on the table. It breaks.

STUDENT: The change of momentum in this interaction is so rapid that the egg breaks under the force.

The STUDENT cleans up the broken egg from the table.

STUDENT: But, if we make a contraption that slows the momentum of the interaction, we can save the egg.

The STUDENT picks up a contraption he’s made.

STUDENT: I made my device from straws, tape and, like, a nest of cotton, because one time when I was a kid, I found a nest with blue robin eggs in the grass. It was crazy! The wind had knocked it from the tree, but the eggs didn’t break. Let’s try this.

The STUDENT puts an egg into the contraption and tapes it in place. He drops it onto the table and pulls out the egg, which remains intact.

STUDENT: Success! And, just for fun, let’s increase the velocity by dropping it from a higher place.

The STUDENT puts the egg back into the contraption and tapes it in place. He stands up and drops it onto the table. It turns over mid fall. The STUDENT picks it up and takes a look.

STUDENT: Hmm. I didn’t think of that. It broke. Let’s do another one.

The STUDENT picks up a ball of balloons taped together.

STUDENT: Let’s do this! I saw a video of a NASA test where they used, like, a bunch of blow-up airbags in the form of a grape around the rover to keep it from breaking no matter what way it landed.

The STUDENT puts the egg deep inside the ball of balloons. He stands up and drops it onto

the table. It bounces onto the floor. He picks it up and pulls out the egg, which remains intact.

STUDENT: Ha ha! Pretty cool. I could be a space engineer.

Based on what you’ve learned from the video, fill in a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the egg helmet to a human helmet.

Answer 1

Here's a comparison using a Venn Diagram format to compare and contrast the egg helmet and a human helmet:

Egg Helmet (Left Circle)

• Designed specifically for absorbing impact from a drop.
• Made from lightweight materials like straws, tape, and cotton.
• Focused on protecting the fragile shell of an egg.
• Aimed at reducing the intensity and duration of the impact.

Similarities (Middle Overlapping Section)

• Both are designed to protect the contents inside (egg or brain).
• Utilize materials and structures to absorb impact and reduce force.
• Aim to increase the time over which the momentum changes to lessen the force experienced during a collision.

Human Helmet (Right Circle)

• Designed for various activities (biking, motorcycling, construction).
• Made from more durable materials (polycarbonate, foam padding, etc.).
• Focused on protecting the human head and brain from impacts.
• Involves more complex safety standards and regulations.

This Venn Diagram allows for a visual representation of how the egg helmet and human helmet share some similarities while serving different specific purposes and being made from different types of materials.