EgG's and Gelly Beans

High G Experiment - EgG's

Abstract
An experiment to break eggs at different positions under high g's in a centrifuge is described. It includes equipment, procedures and layout sketch, a control experiment and calculations. Results have not been acquired but it has been concluded that a better camera mount is required.

Hypothesis
-In its flat, natural position, the egg will crack, if not break, in a high g environment
-With its rounded sides receiving the force, the egg will not break under the g forces our centrifuge can produce

Procedures

Control experiment:
1. Weigh one of your eggs in grams
2. Cover the scale with a paper towel and put the egg in a Ziploc bag on the scale
3. Zero the scale
4. Slowly and gradually apply force to the egg using your hands while your partner observes the reading
5. Continue applying force until the egg cracks
6. Record the reading on the scale
7. Dispose of the egg
8. Repeat the procedures but apply force to the egg while holding it as upright as possible (force should be greater)

Centrifuge experiment:
1. Place the egg in a Ziploc bag
2. Secure the bag to the far end of the experiment chamber using duct tape
3. Place the camera securely in the opposite side of the chamber and hit the record button
4. Spin and observe!
5. Place the egg in its "seat" and in a Ziploc
6. Secure it to the far wall with the rounded side on the wall
7. Place the camera, spin and observe!

Layout Sketch

http://waltonaero.wikidot.com/local--files/start/EgGs.jpg

Calculations
Weight of egg: 64 grams
Flat break reading: 2000 g
Upright break reading: 2500 g

Flat break g's: 2000 g / 64 g = 31.25G
Upright break g's: 2500g / 64 g = 39G

After a frame-by-frame analysis of the video of the experiment (which could not be uploaded), it was found that it took the egg 12 frames to make a complete revolution in the 30 fps quality. Therefore:

Period of revolution: 12frames / 30frames/sec = 0.4 sec
Frequency of revolution: 1 / period = 1/0.4sec = 2.5 Hz

Centripetal acceleration: 4π2 * radius * frequency2 = 4π2*0.3048m*2.52Hz2 = 75.21 m/s2
G's: centripetal acceleration / gravity = 75.21m/s2/9.81m/s2 = 7.674 G's
Force: mass * centripetal acceleration = .064kg*40.44m/s2 = 4.813 N

Results and Observations
The camera flew off of the box because the tape could not hold the g's required to break the eggs. The camera subsequently broke the eggs as it hit them at high velocity. It is thus observed that very high g's, perhaps even too many for the class centrifuge, are required to break the eggs, as they did not break even at a high rate of spin.
The team is awaiting improvements on the camera mount for more insightful results.

Conclusions and Analysis
It has been concluded that a stronger camera mount is required so that the g's required to break the eggs are reached. A better camera mount is also needed to protect the camera. The team, as well as the class, realized that eggs are surprisingly g-force resistant.

Low G Experiment - Gelly Beans

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License