What is 'binding energy' in the context of the egg drop, and how does it relate to whether the egg breaks?

Binding energy is the energy holding the eggshell together. If the impact energy exceeds the binding energy, the egg will break.

Explain how increasing the impact time helps to prevent an egg from breaking.

Increasing the impact time spreads the force over a longer period, reducing the peak force experienced by the egg.

9th Grade•80 minutes•I can conduct an investigation to evaluate the role of air resistance when an object is in free fall.

I can design and conduct an experiment to determine the effect of air resistance on a falling object.

Potential energy is the energy associated with height, while kinetic energy is the energy of speed.

Adding a parachute to your egg drop contraption increases air resistance, which reduces the speed of the fall and the impact force on the egg.

To protect an egg, you can either reduce the speed at impact or spread out the impact event over a longer period of time.

This lesson includes 12 practice questions to reinforce learning.

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1. What two factors determine an object's potential energy before it is dropped?

2. As an egg falls, potential energy is converted into what type of energy?

3. Explain how a parachute helps to protect an egg from breaking in the egg drop competition.

...and 9 more questions

1st place Egg Drop project ideas- using SCIENCE

Mark Rober