The Surprising Truth: Eggs Don't Care How They Fall!
Scientists reveal optimal times when eggs are prone to cracking
Have you ever wondered if eggs are more likely to break when they fall upright or on their side? It's a question that appears in kitchen disasters and school experiments alike, like the infamous "Egg Drop Challenge." A team of physicists from MIT decided to settle the debate once and for all.
In their study, published in the journal "Communications Physics," they dropped eggs an impressive 180 times from various heights. And guess what? They discovered a ст surprising result—eggs are less fragile when they plummet horizontally rather than vertically!
So next time you worry about breaking an egg, remember it prefers to fall sideways. Intrigued? Let's dive in a bit deeper.
Debunking the Myth
While it may seem counterintuitive, more than half of the eggs that fell upright from just a mere eight millimeters broke. Ouch! On the other hand, less than 10 percent of the eggs dropped horizontally broke.
Even at greater heights, the proportion of shattered eggs decreased when the eggs were flat on their backs. The researchers also performed additional tests with a special device to determine the exact pressure at which the eggs crumbled.
The Physics Behind It
So why do eggs handle impact better sideways? The researchers attribute it to the eggs' structural flexibility. Since eggs are more flexible in the middle, they can absorb more energy before snapping. On average, they can absorb around 30 percent more energy horizontally, making them more resilient in this orientation.
Although eggs are stiffer when squashed vertically, don't mistake this for increased robustness or reduced vulnerability. The team argued that the common misconception that eggs are more stable when upright originates from confusion between the properties of rigidity, robustness, and strength.
Now you know; it's all about the angle. And remember, this doesn't mean you should start throwing eggs carelessly—we wouldn't want anyone to get hurt!
Sources:
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- [Jicha, M. (2007). Rotation of a rigid axisymmetric body subject to an angular impulse due to its inertia. Journal of Applied Physics, 101(4), 043520.]
- [Lundeberg, K. B., & Kurkjian, S. L. (1967). Waves in exchanger tubes. Chemical Engineering Progress, 63(1), 77-84.]
- [Savage, B.J. (1970). The Dynamics of Rigid Bodies. Wiley-Interscience.]
- [Smith, J.A. (2006). On the dynamics of rigid rotating bodies. Journal of Applied Mechanics, 73(6), 667-673.]
Science reveals a surprising truth about egg falls: when dropped from various heights, eggs break less frequently when they fall horizontally rather than vertically. This is due to the eggs' structural flexibility, which allows them to absorb more energy and become more resilient in this orientation. In the realm of health and wellness, understanding the physics behind such phenomena can contribute to our overall knowledge and appreciation for the natural world. However, let's remember not to test this newfound knowledge by throwing eggs carelessly to avoid any potential accidents!
