The contestants shall design and build a shipping container that will prevent an uncooked chicken egg (Grade A Large) from breaking when dropped from the second floor inside the Oliver H. Raymond building to the basement (approximately 30 feet). The container must be less than 6”x6”x6” (216 in3) in volume with no single dimension longer than 10 inches. The maximum weight, including the egg, cannot exceed 2 1⁄2 pounds. Judges must be able to remove the egg without damage.
Materials
Any material may be used in the design, as long as the structure meets the design and contest rules as outlined below.
Design and Contest Rules
- No kits or pre-made designs may be used. The structure must be the individual’s invention. (i.e. no hollowed-out foam footballs.)
- The structure must be completely released (no strings or other attachments). NO PARACHUTES!
- No gases (i.e. helium) other than air can be present in the structure when it is weighed.
- Volume will be calculated based on the outside shape of the container (inside air volume/space will not be subtracted out).
Judging Criteria
- Grade A Large eggs will be supplied at the competition. DO NOT drop off the project with the egg inside!
- The following formula will be used to calculate the score:
$$S_{final} = -\ {any point deductions}$$- Where S is the survivability factor. S=1 means the egg survived. S=0 means the egg did not survive.
- W is the weight of the project in pounds (lbs).
- L is the longest recorded length of the project in feet (ft).
- T is time it takes the project to drop in seconds (s).
- $S_{final}$ is the final amount of points.
- The winner will be determined by the project that receives the greatest score.