Vicissitudes and Victories

From Today's Salt Lake Tribune

Eggs fall 50 feet and don't break at USU
By Arrin Newton Brunson
Special to The Tribune

LOGAN - Monday was a regular work day for Utah State University employee Bryan Bingham, whose job as a campus roofer and carpenter requires him to be resourceful and flexible.

But not since last year, when his top-floor access made Bingham the designee for tossing dozens of pingpong balls off a campus building, has his list of job duties been so bizarre.
With finesse, Bingham launched four packages carrying eggs from the top of the nearly 50-foot-tall Eccles Science Learning Center. All of the uncooked eggs were unwrapped and found completely intact.

Apparently, student competitors in Monday's egg drop contest were well versed in the lessons USU physicist J.R. Dennison attributes to the competition, relating to the physics of motion, gravity, force and velocity. The classic experiment is an excellent way to understand spring action, cushioning and shock absorption, Dennison said. Research on the principles has enhanced car bumpers, athletic shoes and prosthetic limbs.

Safety regulations have tamed rooftop tossing activities, which "back in the day" included hurling refrigerators and TVs, said Tim Peterson, a biology major and USU College of Science student body officer.

Today, "the guidelines are no boiling, no hollowing and no freezing the egg," Peterson said.
Trevor Nielson, a chemistry student from Hyrum, packed his egg in peanut butter, a simple and sloppy approach that was surprisingly effective.

Jan Marie Andersen, a physics and math major from Sacramento, Calif., used a series of egg cartons, figuring "egg cartons are engineered to protect eggs."

posted by Joel @ 3:32 PM