Reflection
My Egg Drop project was unsuccessful in preventing the egg from breaking because the design was built for a straight fall, while when experimented, the structure flipped over due to the egg's weight and fell faced downwards. In order to improve my project, I would have to either add material in every direction, so the design would sustain no matter which direction it fell on, or I could add weight to the bottom in the form of clumped toothpicks to ensure the design falls correctly. I learned from this project the importance of the balance of weights throughout a falling structure and the motions of an object's fall. I can apply my learning's to my class in that we are studying free fall and acceleration due to gravity, which ties in closely with the speed, direction, and magnitude of the fall of my egg drop project. With a few calculations and measurements, we can find the initial and final velocity of the structure. For students completing this project in the future I would advise that they make a balanced structure that has enough strength to endure the three floor drop (a spherical or cubical structure).
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Observations
Observations - Mohammad Behnia
Date of Testing: 10/25/2012Date of Completion: 10/17/2012-10/24/2012
Materials Used: 2.5 inch standard Toothpicks, Elmer's Glue, Wax Paper
Mass without Egg: 49.9 grams
Total Mass: 107.4 grams
Height of Structure: 8.6 inches
Width of Structure: 12.4 inches
Length of Structure: 12.5 inches
Total Weight Supported: about 300 newtons (estimation, design was not tested for strength)
How it Failed? The design failed because of the change of direction in the course of falling; the pyramidal structure was meant to fall straight down but ended up flipping due to the egg's weight.
Where it Failed? The structure failed and broke at the top, since when it was dropped it flipped and all the force was focused on the side where the egg was placed.
Wonders/Suggestions: I wonder what would happen if the variable of inaccuracy in building was eliminated. If the design were perfectly symmetrical, would it have fell straight down? I think if I improved the type of glue, the toothpicks may have been bound more strongly together. My egg broke because the structure flipped, so I need to add weight in the form of tooth picks to the bottom.
Image:
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Day Six
October 24, 2012 1:49 minutes
Today I finished the building of my egg drop structure. I had already built the container pieces (structure in which the egg is placed) and had the skeleton of the pyramid prepared. By attaching the container to the toothpick pyramid and adding truss structures in between the skeletal structure of the base, I was able to complete the figure and leave for drying. Some glue was also added to weak bindings between toothpicks to strengthen the design. Images of the final design with an egg placed inside are shown below.
Today I finished the building of my egg drop structure. I had already built the container pieces (structure in which the egg is placed) and had the skeleton of the pyramid prepared. By attaching the container to the toothpick pyramid and adding truss structures in between the skeletal structure of the base, I was able to complete the figure and leave for drying. Some glue was also added to weak bindings between toothpicks to strengthen the design. Images of the final design with an egg placed inside are shown below.
TOP view 
ISOMETRIC view
Monday, October 22, 2012
Day Five
October 22, 2012 63 minutes
Today I continued to process of building the base and extended it out for one layer of the pyramid. I began by attaching the panels together with truss structures in between to finalize the container. After the container had dried, I extended the structure, one toothpick deeper to result in a pyramidal figure. The sides were diagonally attached and the center of the skeleton was supported by gluing in triangular supports. Images of this step are pasted below. After one layer, I also added the skeleton of the next, widest layer of the pyramid so that it would be ready and dried for completion.
Today I continued to process of building the base and extended it out for one layer of the pyramid. I began by attaching the panels together with truss structures in between to finalize the container. After the container had dried, I extended the structure, one toothpick deeper to result in a pyramidal figure. The sides were diagonally attached and the center of the skeleton was supported by gluing in triangular supports. Images of this step are pasted below. After one layer, I also added the skeleton of the next, widest layer of the pyramid so that it would be ready and dried for completion.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Day Four
October 21, 2012 56 minutes
Today I designed the bottom of my structure that supports the container. The bottom is in the shape of a pyramid with the container at the top. The pyramid will be structured with trusses and triangles for maximum strength. I also began building the the panels I had previously designed in Day Three. I gathered toothpicks, wax paper, and Elmer's glue to begin building. Although the glue took a while to dry, it did result in a strong structure. An image of one of the prepared panels is pasted below.
Today I designed the bottom of my structure that supports the container. The bottom is in the shape of a pyramid with the container at the top. The pyramid will be structured with trusses and triangles for maximum strength. I also began building the the panels I had previously designed in Day Three. I gathered toothpicks, wax paper, and Elmer's glue to begin building. Although the glue took a while to dry, it did result in a strong structure. An image of one of the prepared panels is pasted below.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Day Three
October 20, 2012 34 minutes
Today I finalized my idea for the structure. I decided to make three panels (as sketched in Day Two) of different sizes (two of them small of and big) to hold the egg in place in the form of a container. Since overlapping of toothpicks in one plane would be difficult to do, I also decide to make each panel composed of four different layers which stack up to make the desired figure. The panels will be held apart with a truss structure and the top panel will be let loose as a lid for easy removal. The image below illustrates this design.
Today I finalized my idea for the structure. I decided to make three panels (as sketched in Day Two) of different sizes (two of them small of and big) to hold the egg in place in the form of a container. Since overlapping of toothpicks in one plane would be difficult to do, I also decide to make each panel composed of four different layers which stack up to make the desired figure. The panels will be held apart with a truss structure and the top panel will be let loose as a lid for easy removal. The image below illustrates this design.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Day Two
October 17, 2012 1:13 minutes
Today I began to draw thumbnail sketches and rough drafts of plausible ideas for my project. I wanted to make sure I use truss designs and triangles since they have been proven to endure the most pressure compared to other geometric designs. To make the container holding the egg, I decided to make a somewhat cubical figure that conforms to the eggs shape so the egg has minimal movement while falling, yet I did want to leave slight extra space for the egg to be placed in freely and not affected by the structure itself. Below is a thumbnail sketch on paint of the panels holding the egg.
Today I began to draw thumbnail sketches and rough drafts of plausible ideas for my project. I wanted to make sure I use truss designs and triangles since they have been proven to endure the most pressure compared to other geometric designs. To make the container holding the egg, I decided to make a somewhat cubical figure that conforms to the eggs shape so the egg has minimal movement while falling, yet I did want to leave slight extra space for the egg to be placed in freely and not affected by the structure itself. Below is a thumbnail sketch on paint of the panels holding the egg.
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