Walking on eggs??
We've all accidentally broken an egg, right? We tell kids to be careful with them because they seem so fragile. But are they really as delicate as we think?
Put it to the test!
1. Spread out newspaper or plastic on the floor.
2. Open egg cartons and line them up.
3. Take off your socks and shoes.
4. Step carefully, keeping your feet as flat as possible.
5. Keep your weight evenly distributed and walk across.
How it works: Eggs are rounded on all ends, distributing force evenly around the shell. When you place your body weight on the eggs, the pressure spreads out across the entire surface rather than concentrating on one point.
The rounded dome shape has been used throughout history as one of the strongest shapes in building. Domes can span great distances without internal support. The Pantheon, built in 609 AD, has a diameter of 142 feet with no internal arch supports. We still use this design today to span large spaces.
Fun fact: My son was intrigued by this and tested how much weight eggs could actually hold. Four eggs supported a 5-gallon bucket of sand plus an ice cream bucket of sand on top. We calculated that each egg held approximately 65 pounds.