Egg-Streme Parachuting Teaches Newton’s Second Law of Motion

Seventh grade STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics), taught by Brian Francois, recently conducted a design challenge on Egg-Streme Parachuting. Students were required to design and construct a parachute that could carry an egg safely to the ground from a height of five meters (16 feet). Each collaborative group examined the influence of a canopy’s surface area and overall acceleration of the egg by a systematic process of engineering of collecting and evaluating different designs and sizes of parachutes. This analysis helped them determine the best parachute design for their egg. While developing models and analyzing data the students learned about Newton’s Second Law of Motion, the forces of gravity and drag, along with mathematical relationships between them and how they affect parachute design.

“Throughout the project the students demonstrated great problem solving, communication, and critical thinking skills,” said Brian. “Their desire to be the best brought out their competitive nature which in turn enhanced their enthusiasm for the project. The more fun they have, the more they learn.”