Scientists at MIT disprove a long-standing scientific myth: Eggshells demonstrate greater strength along their sides.
Unraveling the Myth of Stronger Eggs: A Crack at an Age-Old Assumption
In the realm of science classrooms, a long-standing belief has been shattered by a team of ingenious minds from MIT. Contrary to popular belief, eggs are not stronger when dropped on their ends. In reality, they're more resilient whenSubjected to an impact on their sides.
"Eggs bend like shock absorbers, exchanging stiffness for superior energy absorption when dropped sideways," explains the MIT team. And that's not all—this discovery goes beyond eggs, underscoring a valuable lesson about science: even "settled" facts can yield unexpected surprises when explored with rigor and an open mindset.
For the common egg-enthusiast, the finding may seem counterintuitive. Aren't eggs easier to crack on their sides after all? To put this assumption to the test, the MIT team executed two types of experiments. They began by applying static compression, systematically increasing the force to measure stiffness and toughness. The subsequent dynamic drop tests were designed to probe the likelihood of shattering upon impact.
Surprisingly, the same force was required to break an egg, both horizontally and vertically. However, researchers noticed a significant difference in how much each orientation compressed before cracking. "The horizontal egg compressed more under the same amount of force, indicating greater compliance," says Joseph Bonavia, a Ph.D. candidate involved in the study.
armed with this discovery, the team crafted a sophisticated drop test using solenoids and 3D-printed supports to ensure synchronized release and consistent orientation. The results confirmed their initial findings: the horizontal eggs absolutely superior energy absorption compared to their vertically-laid counterparts.
"Even though both orientations experienced similar peak forces, the horizontal eggs absorbed energy better and were more resistant to breaking," notes Avishai Jeselsohn, an undergraduate researcher and study author.
So, should you start dropping your eggs horizontally every morning? Not quite. The MIT team's research pertains to the eggs resilience during falls, but breakfast preparation is an entirely different story. "Cracking an egg for cooking involves localized force for a clean break to retrieve the yolk, while its resistance to breaking during a drop involves distributing and absorbing energy across the shell," explains Brendan Unikewicz, another Ph.D. candidate and study author.
In essence, the MIT team has demolished a longstanding scientific myth, but it turns out that this revelation has no significant impact on the most obvious practical application—cooking. Thankfully, our trusty sourdough, avocado, and two-fried-egg concoction remains untouched.
Here's to more intriguing discoveries and fewer fundamental rethinks of breakfast traditions!
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Sourcing:
- MIT News
- Communications Physics
- IFL Science
- Popular Mechanics
- Scientific American
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