Egg-stra Tough

What you need

• A raw egg
• Plastic bag or glove

Instructions

1. Make sure the egg has no hairline fractures and that your hand is free of objects such as rings
2. Squeeze the egg evenly from different angles to try to break it, without using your nails. Wear a plastic bag or glove on your hand if you’re worried about mess

Results and Explanation

Believe it or not, you can’t break it by squeezing it!

An egg’s arched shape makes its structure as strong as possible, so applying force to the ends or sides spreads the force out, making the shell stretch before it can break. But a sudden force applied at one small point will break it.

These experiments have not been specifically safety tested for home use but we believe them to be safe if the instructions are followed. Adult supervision or direction is recommended as appropriate. All experiments are carried out at your own risk.