Egg Drop Lander Physics STEM Lab PHY02

Middle School Physics Egg Drop Lab: 3-page STEM packet on impulse-momentum physics, crumple zones, collision time, & impact velocity math.

Explore impulse-momentum physics, kinetic energy dissipation, drag dynamics, and crumple zone engineering! The Egg Drop Lander Impulse Cushioning STEM Lab (PHY02) challenges middle school student teams to act as aerospace engineers, designing a lightweight planetary landing module to protect a raw egg payload during high-impact drop testing.

Students explore impulse and momentum, terminal velocity, surface drag, crumple zone shock absorption, and impact velocity calculations!

What Is Included in This 3-Page Packet?

Page 1: Teacher Guide & Lesson Plan: NGSS alignment (MS-PS2-2, MS-PS3-1, MS-ETS1-2), target science concepts, drop station setup guide, expected student outcomes, answer keys, and launch safety/cleanup rules.

Page 2: Student Mission Card & Blueprint: Real-world aerospace engineering and Mars planetary lander scenario hook, clear material limits box (egg, straws, cotton balls, tape, tissue paper/bag, string, balance), and a dedicated Lander Structural & Crumple Zone Schematic sketching zone.

Page 3: Testing Log & Scientific Reflection: Structured Data Testing Table (track drop height in meters, lander mass in grams, survival outcome, and structural impact analysis), Applied Math Connection (calculate Estimated Impact Velocity), and physics reflection questions.

Core STEM Skills Covered:

Aerospace Engineering & Impulse Collision Physics

Kinetic Energy Dissipation & Structural Shock Absorption

Terminal Velocity Dynamics & Aerodynamic Drag Vectors

Data Logging, Metric Height Measurement (m), and Velocity Math Calculations

Why Teachers Love This Resource:

3-Page Professional Layout: Includes a complete Teacher Guide for seamless prep, keeping student activity sheets clean and ready to print!

Low-Cost Materials: Uses simple straws, cotton balls, masking tape, tissue paper or plastic bags, string, and raw eggs.

High-Impact Physics Lab: Transforms momentum and collision equations into a high-stakes, hands-on, memorable survival challenge!

Print-Ready: High-resolution, 3-page PDF format ready for instant printing.