The Parachuting Egg

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In this activity, learners work in groups to design a parachute out of household items that keeps an egg secure when dropped from a certain height. Learners must follow a certain number of design constraints (i.e. parachute's max length can only be 3.28 ft or 1 m). During the test, learners measure the time from the release to the impact, the vertical distance of the fall, and the speed of the egg when it hits the ground. This lesson guide includes background information about Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) and questions for learners. This is also a low-cost activity as the lesson guide recommends learners provide the materials.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
5 to 10 minutes
Learning Time:
45 to 60 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
free per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 11 - 18
Resource Types:
Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan, Model, Simulation
Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)

  • Egg (provided by learners)
  • Household items for parachute (brought in by learners)
  • Stopwatch
  • Tape measure
  • Pencil
  • Paper

Keywords

Subjects

  • Earth and Space Science
    • Astronomy
      • Probes, Satellites and Spacecraft
  • Engineering and Technology
    • Engineering
      • Aerospace Engineering
      • Transportation Engineering
  • Mathematics
    • Algebra
    • Data Analysis and Probability
      • Data Analysis
      • Data Collection
      • Data Representation
    • Measurement
      • Units of Measurement
      • Rate
    • Number and Operations
  • The Nature of Technology
    • Technology and Society
      • Technology and History
    • The Design Process
      • Research and Development
      • Invention and Innovation
      • Troubleshooting and Maintenance
  • Physical Sciences
    • Motion and Forces
      • Gravity
      • Momentum and Velocity
      • Acceleration
  • The Nature of Science
    • Science and Society
    • The Scientific Process
      • Asking Questions
      • Conducting Investigations
      • Gathering Data
      • Formulating Explanations
      • Communicating Results

Informal Categories

  • Food and Cooking
  • Model Building
  • Outdoor Activity
  • Transportation

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • read
  • be mobile
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves teamwork and communication skills
  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

  • Huegele, Vince ; Hill, Kristy ; Terry, Brenda

Rights:

  • Public domain, ,

Funding Source:

  • NASA Explorer Institute