The Curious Science of Cracking Eggs: Horizontal vs Vertical Drop
Scientific findings suggest that eggs are more resistant to cracking when dropped on their side.
Ever wondered if it matters how you drop an egg? Well, it turns out that its orientation plays a significant role in the chances of it cracking! Findings from an experimental study with over 200 eggs suggest that eggs are less likely to split when dropped horizontally compared to vertically [1][2].
So, what does this mean for your morning scramble? Most likely, not much! A crack around the middle would still give you those delicious yolks and runny whites. But interestingly, this new finding could help with hard-boiling eggs without creating unsightly cracks that leave them looking like a puffy, cloudy mess [2].
It's common belief that eggs are strongest at their ends – after all, that's how they're packed in cartons! The thinking goes that the arced bottom of an egg redirects the force and cushions the impact. However, experimental compression tests showed that eggs cracked under the same amount of force, regardless of the direction they were squeezed [2].
The findings piqued the researchers' curiosity, and they took things further by performing simulations and dropping eggs both horizontally and vertically from heights of up to 0.4 inches (10 mm) [2]. The results? Eggs dropped horizontally cracked less often [2].
According to materials scientist Marc Meyers from the University of California, San Diego, who was not involved in the study, "the common sense is that the egg in the vertical direction is stronger than if you lay the egg down. But they proved that's not the case" [2].
So, why is there a difference in cracking likelihood between horizontal and vertical drops? It appears that the egg's equator is more flexible and better absorbs energy from the fall before cracking [2]. This is counterintuitive, as countless broken eggs may lead us to believe that the pointed ends are the weak points.
Next time you're participating in an egg-drop challenge for school or otherwise, keep these insights in mind to help your egg survive the journey unscathed! And remember, this newfound knowledge doesn't change the way you crack eggs for your steel-cut oats or sunny-side-up breakfast.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Adithi Ramakrishnan, The Associated Press
- The findings of a study involving over 200 eggs indicate that eggs are less likely to crack when dropped horizontally, rather than vertically.
- Normally, when an egg cracks during cooking, it doesn't significantly affect the edibility of the egg, but this scientific discovery could potentially improve the process of hard-boiling eggs.
- Contrary to common belief, eggs are not stronger at their ends, as they tend to crack under the same amount of force, regardless of the direction they're squeezed.
- The results of simulations and experiments conducted by the researchers found that eggs dropped horizontally cracked less often than those dropped vertically.
- Materials scientist Marc Meyers, from the University of California, San Diego, commented on the study, stating that it challenges the common assumption that vertical eggs are stronger than horizontally placed ones.
- The reason why eggs crack less frequently when dropped horizontally is due to the egg's equator being more flexible, allowing it to better absorb energy from the fall before breaking.
