Egg Drop Inertia

An egg is balanced on a cardboard tube above a glass of water, with a pie pan in between. By quickly knocking the pan away, the tube and pan move aside, but the egg drops straight down into the glass of water, demonstrating Newton’s First Law of Motion.

1. Fill a large drinking glass about three-quarters full with water and place it on a sturdy table.
2. Center a metal pie pan on top of the glass.
3. Stand a cardboard tube vertically on the pan so that it is directly above the glass.
4. Carefully place an egg on top of the tube.
5. Stand behind the setup with your hand ready at the side of the pie pan.
6. In one swift motion, strike the edge of the pie pan horizontally. The pan and tube fly sideways while the egg, initially stationary, drops straight down into the glass of water.
7. Celebrate when the egg lands safely in the water without breaking!

Egg Inertia - Mr Barry's Science Channel:

Egg Drop Demo (Newton's 1st Law) - Kids Fun Science:

📄 Egg Drop Inertia Challenge - Steve Spangler: https://stevespangler.com/experiments/egg-drop-inertia-trick/

📄 Egg-drop trick - Science Museum Group: https://learning.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/resources/egg-drop-trick/

• Try longer cardboard tubes or taller glasses to see if the egg still lands safely.
• Experiment with different egg sizes (small, large, jumbo).
• Use multiple tubes and eggs on a tray to attempt two or three egg drops at once.
• Replace the egg with a similar object (like a small ball) to reduce mess.

• Use plastic instead of glass to avoid the risk of breakages.
• Always wash hands after handling raw eggs to avoid salmonella exposure.
• Keep paper towels handy in case an egg breaks.
• Perform on a stable surface to prevent spills and breakage.
• Strike the pie pan firmly and confidently to ensure success—hesitation increases the chance of a mess.

• Why does the egg fall straight down instead of following the pan’s motion?
• How does this experiment demonstrate Newton’s First Law of Motion?
• What role does gravity play in the egg’s final motion?
• How would friction or a slower pan movement affect the result?
• How is this demonstration similar to the classic tablecloth trick?