======Cerebrospinal Fluid Egg Experiment======


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**Materials: **{{$demo.materials_description}}\\
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**Safety: **{{$demo.safety_description}}\\
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**Alternative titles:** Shake Up Your Brain
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Draw a face on a raw egg (“Mr. Egghead”). The egg represents the brain.  
  - Place the egg inside a sealed plastic container to represent the skull.  
  - Shake the container. Observe the egg break, showing brain injury without protection.  
  - Repeat with a new egg, but this time fill the container with water before sealing.  
  - Shake again. Observe how the egg remains intact, cushioned by the fluid (representing cerebrospinal fluid).  
  - (Optional) Drop the container from a set height and compare conditions:  
    - With water inside.  
    - Without water.  
    - With other materials (sand, rocks, etc.).  
    - Using different shaped containers.  
  - Record observations in a chart to compare outcomes.



====Links==== 
Egg Heads: How Cerebrospinal Fluid Protects the Brain - Vanderbilt Brain Institute: 
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📄 Shake Your Brain - Dr Eric H. Chudler: [[https://childbraininjurytrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/005-Shake-Your-Brain.pdf]]\\

====Variations====
  * Test different types of fluids (water, oil, syrup) to see which best protects the egg.   
  * Compare results between gentle shaking and dropping from height.  
  * Extend into helmet testing by wrapping the container in padding materials.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Handle raw eggs carefully to avoid mess and contamination.  
  * Wash hands after handling broken eggs.  
  * Ensure containers are sealed tightly before shaking or dropping.  
  * Use drop tests in a safe, controlled area to prevent spills.




====Questions to Consider====
  * How did water (cerebrospinal fluid) protect the egg from breaking? (It cushioned and absorbed impact forces.)  
  * Why does the brain need cerebrospinal fluid? (To protect it from sudden impacts and reduce injury risk.)  
  * What other natural protections does the brain have? (The skull and meninges.)  
  * What extra measures can humans take to protect their brains? (Wearing helmets, using seat belts, avoiding risky behaviors.)