ROTOR EGG DROP

Science Olympiad Summer InstitutePhoenix, AZ July 16 – 20, 20112

DESCRIPTION: Construct a helicopter type device to

safely transport a raw chicken egg from a given height to the floor

EVENT PARAMETERS

Use wings/blades that rotate around a central axis to slow decent

No energy producing mechanisms No pre-made rotor assemblies Cannot be:

Airplane Balloon Parachute

PARAMETERS (cont.)

Grade A large chicken egg Sealed in plastic bag Placed in cup

8 – 10 ozFoam?Attached to device by tape

Egg, bag, cup, and tape provided by event supervisor

PARAMETERS (cont.)

Cup is 1st surface to touch the floor Devices where cup does not touch floor

first will be ranked below other devices where cup does touch the floor first

No other shock absorbing material allowed

Devices must fit w/in 51 cm x 51 cm x 51 cm

COMPETITION

Impounded before start of event No modifications allowed other than to

attach egg

Students may inspect egg If cracked may request another egg Once accepted if broken before drop

students may receive another egg2 sec. penalty subtracted from final time

COMPETITION (cont.)

Only one drop Height announced day of

tournament 5 meter minimum

Time – release time until it hits floor 3 timers – MEDIAN of the 3 times

(the middle time is used)

COMPETITION (cont.)

After drop student removes egg from device and gives to supervisor

All devices with eggs surviving will be ranked ahead of devices with broken eggs even if student breaks the egg

after the drop and before giving to supervisorBroken egg defined by wet spot on paper towel

SCORING

Highest time wins Devices not meeting construction

parameters will be ranked below all devices that do

Devices with broken eggs will be ranked below successful devices

Tiebreaker Lightest helicopter (w/o egg, bag, cup)

No appeals after device leaves impound

Practice

To practice without wasting eggs, take a plastic egg and weight with pennies to approximate mass of egg

Plan on making lots of different rotor designs.

Rotors must rotate at least 360 degrees in its descent or it is not a rotor it is a parachute

The higher the drop, the easier it is to get rotor to rotate 360 degrees

Angled blades rotate better than flat blades

Web Sites

http://fc.niskyschools.org/~psherman/03978F9B-011EDE4C.25/HelicopterEggDropNotes.pdf

http://www.instructables.com/id/Amazing--Graceful-Egg-Drop-Contraption/