Egg Drop

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In this activity, kids make and play with Ooze before testing the material in an egg drop! Learners will investigate if a strange, gooey material made from water and cornstarch can prevent an egg from breaking after a fall. The activity makes connections to the field of nanotechnology through providing an example of how a material's macroscale characteristics are affected by its structure on the nanoscale. Step-by-step instructions are included with photos along with safety recommendations. Activity guide includes a "What's going on?" explanation and quick connections to shear-thickening fluids (STFs) and non-Newtonian behavior of materials.

Quick Guide

Learning Time:
Estimated Materials Cost:
$1 - $5 per student
Age Range:
Ages 4 - adult
Resource Type:
Activity
Language:
English

Materials List (per student)

  • 2 measures cornstarch
  • 1 measure water
  • 2-3 drops food coloring (optional)
  • Medium bowl
  • 2 Large plastic bags
  • Small plastic bag
  • 2 Eggs (uncooked!)

Keywords

Subjects

  • Engineering and Technology
    • Engineering
      • Metallurgy and Materials Engineering
      • Nanotechnology
  • Physical Sciences
    • States of Matter
      • Solids
      • Liquids
      • Changes of Phase
    • Structure and Properties of Matter
      • Atomic Structure

Audience

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

  • Sciencenter

Source Collection

  • NISE Network

Rights:

  • , Sciencenter, 2012

Funding Source:

  • National Science Foundation