Annual Rolling Hills School Egg Drop Contest Rules
We're excited to announce our Annual Egg Drop Contest happening on October 7th, in partnership with Fortis Alberta!
The goal is for students (with the option of parental assistance) to design an apparatus that will safely protect a raw egg when dropped from increasing heights using a Fortis Alberta bucket truck. Get ready to design, build, and test your engineering skills!
The Challenge
The objective is simple: create a device that keeps your egg from cracking when dropped from the greatest possible height while keeping your design as light as possible.
Rules and Criteria
1. The Egg and the Drop
The Egg: You must design your apparatus to hold one standard, raw, unboiled, Grade A large chicken egg. DO NOT bring an egg to school; we will provide the eggs on the day of the contest.
Inspection & Access: The egg must be easily and quickly removable from your device for judges to inspect it for cracks or leaks both before and after the drop. We must be able to remove and check the egg in under 30 seconds.
The Drop: The apparatus will be dropped from a Fortis Alberta bucket truck. The height will increase with each successful drop until only one apparatus remains.
A "Safe" Landing: A successful drop means the egg is removed from the apparatus and shows no visible cracks, punctures, or leaks. If the egg is cracked, wet, or broken, that device will be eliminated from further drops.
Parachutes: Parachutes are allowed and encouraged!
2. Apparatus Design & Materials
Weight: There is no maximum weight limit, but remember the overall goal: the winner is the device that is the lightest among those that survive the highest drop. Design for safety and minimum mass!
Size Limit (Maximum): Your apparatus must fit within a box that is 30 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm (approximately 12 in x 12 in x 12 in).
Materials: You may use any materials you like, such as cardboard, tape, straws, cotton, foam, wood, plastic, fabric, etc.
Prohibited Materials: For safety and clean-up, please do not use glass, metal sharp objects, liquids (other than glue or paint for construction), aerosol cans, or materials that could permanently damage the drop zone (e.g., concrete, excessively sticky substances).
3. Weigh-In and Inspection
All entries must be submitted and checked in on the morning of October 2nd before the contest begins.
The apparatus will be weighed and measured by the judges.
Determining the Winner
The winning student will be determined by two factors:
Highest Successful Drop: The student whose apparatus protects their egg from the greatest height.
Lightest Weight: In the event of a tie for the highest drop (i.e., multiple eggs survive the highest bucket truck extension), the winner will be the student whose apparatus has the lowest total weight (with the egg inside).
Prizes and Participation
Overall Winner: The winner will receive a certificate and special recognition from Rolling Hills School and Fortis Alberta.
All Participants: Every student who enters the contest will be rewarded for their effort and participation with an Ice Cream Sundae Bar.
Good luck, and happy designing!