One in the Hand

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Produced by the Institute of Physics, this Physics to Go video shows a short demonstration that can be used to engage your students. The teacher notes include the equipment needed, tips and contain a full explanation of the physics involved.

Can you crush an egg in your hand?
Demonstrate how force over a large area won't break the egg. The shape of an egg is actually one of the strongest designs possible. The curved structure means that applying pressure to any particular area actually spreads the force out over the entire egg. So just squeezing it won't cause it to break. Of course applying a very sharp force to one point will cause it to break. This is why we usually tap the egg on the side of a bowl to break it when cooking.

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