Chapter 8, Problem 44A

You can’t throw a raw egg against a wall without breaking the shell, but you can throw it at the same speed into a sagging sheet without breaking it. Explain.

To determine

To Explain: The egg does not break when it is thrown into a sagging sheet.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

A high impulse is required for breakdown of eggshell. This happens when force acts upon it for a very short period.

When the egg is thrown against the wall then its impulse force acts against the egg that causes it to shatter. But in the case of sheet, the impulse force is much lower on the egg as with a sheet, the force to stop the egg is spread over a long time period. Due to this, there is no sufficient impulse to crack the shell.

Conclusion:

So, egg cannot break when it is thrown against the sagging sheet.