LecDem Blog

Demonstration Highlight: The Egg Crusher

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Despite its nickname, demonstration B4-33: Egg Crusher is not intended to crush eggs at all! Instead, it shows the extraordinary strength of these humble curved structures.

An egg with a heavy mass atop it, not being crushed.

The beauty of an arch, whether constructed to hold up a bridge or roof or grown naturally in a bird, is its ability to distribute force evenly. So long as all forces are applied to an egg gradually and symmetrically across the egg, rather than abruptly or at a single point (as happens when you crack it against the edge of your kitchen counter), it can withstand a surprising amount of weight!

 Check it out in action here in this new video featuring Brad Conrad, Director of the Society of Physics Students.

 

 

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