The purpose was to build 2 devices to protect an egg whe droped from various heights. The first was from relatively short distances but had a limited amount of materials. Then in the second there were unlimited materials as long as it fit onto a piece of paper and had no parachute.
Tech Concepts
In this project, multiple technology concepts were explored, such as trying to minimize the impact as it relates to impulse. In the first we tried to make it very light and bouncy on the bottom, which worked except when it bounced onto its side. In the second we put a large crumple zone on the bottom, except it failed when it flipped midair and landed upsidedown
Learning Goals
The design process was the biggest learning goal introduced during this project. We started with 4 designs and narrowed them down to one, which we used and made changes to as needed.
Mini Drop
For our mini drop we focused on making the device very light so the parachute would slow it more efficiently, as well as making the bottom bouncy and flexible to reduce the impact on the egg. It worked excelent until when it bounced too much on one of the drops and landed wrong, cracking the egg.
Big drop
In our big drop we focused more on creating a large crumple zone and reducing the chance of it tipping over once it landed. We used a waterbottle for most of the body, added Popsicle sticks on the bottom and sides, and put the egg in a foam basket of sorts. It worked well and survived 1 story, but on the way from the 3rd floor to the 1st floor it tipped upside down and landed on a metal railing. So while we started with large expectations, we still ended losing.
I think that this was an excelent first major project. Not only was it fun and excitng, it was also very educational. Also, it was different from egg drops that we have done in middle school and this made it more interesting and challenging. It was a great project, and I hope that the other projects will be half as good as this one.
Redesign
In the 1st drop, we decided that the only thing that we would have changed it to have made it so after its landing it wouldn't tip to its side as it did when it broke. In the 2nd, we decided that the only major change we would have done is to make the bottom more heavy so that's where it would have landed. Other than that the only thing we would have changed it to add more padding to the egg.
Tech Resources
In this project, we used resources such as
- Tools
- Machines
- People
- Energy(human)
- Time
- Information(internet)
Biggest challenge
Our biggest challenge in the first drop was how to make a good enough parachute using only the materials provided. In the big drop our greatest challenge was how to have it land on the bottom, which we eventually failed at. However, in hindsight we now know how to fix both of these problems.
What was learned
I learned about the design process, time management, using only certain materials to solve a problem, and being realistic.
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