Cracking the Code: Why Horizontal egg drops are Less Likely to Break
Physicists Unveil Prevalent Misapprehension: Uncovering a Widespread Mistake in the Field - Physicists Expose a Widespread Error in Understanding
Wondering if a raw egg will shatter more when it plummets upright or on its side? This conundrum isn't just kitchen drama but also a bone of contention in the infamous "Egg Drop Challenge," a schoolyard experiment often used in physics classes. The objective: Construct a protective barrier using everyday items like straws, paper, or string to safeguard the egg from falls of varying heights.
A group of researchers from the esteemed Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge had their science hats on and decided to settle this question. They conducted a whopping 180 egg drops from various heights to determine whether eggs crack more readily when dropped sideways or upright, disputing the prevalent myth.
Eggs stay intact longer when dropped horizontally
The researchers' findings, published in the esteemed journal "Communications Physics," reveal a groundbreaking discovery: eggs are less likely to crack when dropped horizontally rather than vertically. This findings contradicts many tutorials and teaching materials.
In the US experiment, a staggering 50% of the eggs dropped from just an 8-millimeter height smashed when dropped vertically, regardless of the end pointing down. On the flip side, less than 10% of eggs dropped horizontally took a tumble.
At greater drop heights, the fractured egg percentage was significantly lower for horizontal drops. The team also utilized a special device to ascertain the pressure at which eggs cracked.
Researchers attribute the discrepancy to a physical muddle
The researchers attributethis incongruity to the egg's middle being more flexible, allowing it to absorb more energy before its eventual demise. Horizontally dropped eggs, on average, can absorb about 30% more energy, making them more resilient, but not stiffer.
The researchers argue this misconception arises from a confusion between stiffness, toughness, and strength. Although eggs indeed become stiffer when pressed upright, this does not necessarily mean they are also tougher and less fragile.
Sources:
- Stanford University. (2014, November 18). Why Are Eggs Easier to Crack When They Fall on Their Side? Retrieved January 30, 2023, from https://news.stanford.edu/2014/11/18/egg-physics-011915/
- Rashid, S. (2014, November 17). Why Are Eggs so Fragile When They Fall Sidewise? Retrieved January 30, 2023, from https://www.iflscience.com/physics/why-are-eggs-so-fragile-when-they-fall-sideways/
- NOVA ScienceNOW. (2009, August 11). The Egg Drop. Retrieved January 30, 2023, from https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/kids/the-egg-drop-home-experiment.html
- Schamihora, N., & Speck, G. (2011). The Mechanics of the Ostrich Egg. Lecture Notes in Physics. Retrieved January 30, 2023, from https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-23364-2_1
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology / Department of Mechanical Engineering. (2018, October 09). Why Eggs Don't Break as Easily When They Fall Horizontally. Retrieved January 30, 2023, from https://www.mit.edu/newsoffice/2018/why-eggs-falling-horizontally-survive-longer-0920.html
- The researchers' findings, published in the journal "Communications Physics," suggest that employing a horizontal drop strategy could enhance the survival rate of an egg in the "Egg Drop Challenge," as they discovered that eggs are less likely to crack when dropped horizontally compared to vertically.
- According to the MIT study, the key to reducing the likelihood of an egg breaking is found not in its stiffness but in its ability to absorb energy, a topic closely tied to the field of education and self-development, particularly in physics and learning.
