Egg Drop Lander Impulse Cushioning STEM Lab (PHY02)

Bring impulse-momentum physics, collision time expansion, kinetic energy dissipation, and impact velocity math to life with the Egg Drop Lander Impulse Cushioning STEM Lab (PHY02)! Designed for Middle School Physical Science, Physics, Math, and STEM classes, this 3-page, print-ready lab packet challenges students to engineer planetary landing modules to survive high-impact drop tests.

What Is Included in This 3-Page Packet?

• 📋 Page 1: Teacher Guide & Lesson Plan

  Features NGSS alignment (MS-PS2-2 Forces & Motion, MS-PS3-1 Kinetic Energy Relationships, MS-ETS1-2 Engineering Design), key collision mechanics concepts, drop track setup instructions, safety/cleanup guidelines, and a full teacher answer key.

• 🥚 Page 2: Student Mission Card & Blueprint

  Hooks students with a Mars planetary lander engineering scenario to protect raw egg payloads. Includes material constraints (egg, drinking straws, cotton balls, masking tape, tissue paper/plastic bag, string, mass balance) and a dedicated schematic sketching zone to diagram crumple zones, deceleration shock absorbers, and surface area drag parachutes.

• 📊 Page 3: Testing Log & Scientific Reflection

  Features a structured lab data table tracking drop height in meters, lander mass in grams, egg survival status, and structural damage observations. Includes an applied math section to calculate Estimated Impact Velocity, followed by reflection questions analyzing impulse equations (Force x Time = Mass x Change in Velocity), deceleration time extension, and energy absorption.

Educational Value & Key Benefits:

• Hands-On Collision & Impulse Physics: Connects physical forces, impact duration, and structural momentum absorption directly to shock-absorbing design.

• Integrates Applied Math & Velocity Calculations: Teaches students how to convert drop heights and gravitational acceleration into impact velocity estimates.

• Low-Cost High-Engagement STEM: Uses inexpensive items like straws, cotton balls, tape, plastic bags, and eggs for an unforgettable physics lab across Grades 6–8.