The egg during the drop competition will undergo gravity, acceleration, inertia and impact. The design of the container must account for these forces to keep the egg from breaking. The students must also understand the physical characteristics of the egg, such as that the eggshell is stronger vertically than it is on the horizontal axis.
The students must create a device to protect the egg through its flight, impact and any subsequent rolling. The mechanical aspect of the egg drop competition may be limited by the materials allowed. Some egg drop contests limit students to using only certain materials, such as toothpicks, to design their contraptions.
Designing and developing an egg drop contraption is an exercise in creativity. Students must build a machine able to withstand many natural forces while protecting the egg. The fewer restrictions teachers and competition planners give the students, the more creative the ideas for protecting the egg can become. Protective cushions made of foam, balloons and rubber bands can all absorb impact forces and keep the egg safe.
Many competitions prize the smallest design possible. The contraptions are typically weighed, without the egg, prior to the drop. Some competitions also want the narrowest designs, to reduce drag on the contraption during the fall. A lightweight device is the most practical and cost-efficient in most cases. These concepts are valuable to the real world; business, science and technology are always looking to streamline for effectiveness, cost and design.
The egg drop competition also requires participants to strictly follow guidelines and parameters regarding the contraptions. These guidelines are to ensure fair competition. Students must follow the parameters including materials allowable, maximum weights and other rules. The students may also find ways to work around these parameters, finding loopholes or unconventional contraptions that meet the contest guidelines.