Egg Packaging Lab (Sample)

Step 1: Ask a question

What is the best way to package an egg so that it does not break when dropped from various heights?

Step 2: Do Background Research

1. egg drop packaging may surprise you. My campers made one (2nd graders) that everyone thought would be the first to break, but it actually won even though it was made from tape, straws and a paper plate. they used the straws to absorb the fall.

http://classroom.all-science-fair-projects.com/forum/showthread.php?t=831

2. Center the egg in a nylon stocking.

1. Stretch stocking tight from each end.

2. Pinch off stocking several inches from each end of egg with rubber bands. (so egg can slide a bit if impact is in axis of stocking)

3. Attach stretched ends of stocking to opposing diagonal corners of a large cardboard box.

4. close box with tape and drop.

http://www.picotech.com/experiments/dropping_egg/dropping_eggs.html

3. If you shape a block of ordinary packing polystyrene to fit around the egg snugly with at least a few inches of extra styrene surrounding the egg. Best if you make two halves and glue them together.

http://www.picotech.com/experiments/dropping_egg/dropping_eggs.html

Step 3: Construct a Hypothesis

I expect that the best materials to use to protect the egg will be a mixture of cotton balls, cardboard, peanut butter, and a parachute. The cotton balls will be layered along the walls of the cardboard shoe box. Then will come a layer of peanut butter. Then, there will be a second layer of cotton balls. The parachute will be made out of a plastic grocery bag. I feel this will do the best job of protecting an egg.

Then use the checklist to complete Steps 4-6. See me if you have any issues.

Don’t forget to run Spellcheck AND proofread, not EVERYTHING is caught by spell check.