On Thursday, May 19, Members of the Adams Area Fire District assisted the fourth grade classes and teachers at the Mars Area Elementary School with an Egg Drop Project. Egg drop projects are often used as STEAM class enhancements to help students explore basic concepts such as gravity, force and acceleration. The general idea was to have students design a container that would allow a cradled egg to safely fall from varying heights without breaking. Egg drop projects combine problem solving skills with basic principles of engineering and physics. Once the projects were completed, the containers were tested at two different drop heights in the school - first from a teacher standing on a chair and second, from an open stairwell in the building. The final test involved Tower 42's aerial platform! The carefully constructed egg containers were loaded into the bucket. The tower ladder was first raised to an approximate height of 35 feet and one-by-one, each was dropped to the ground. Those whose eggs survived the first high drop got to reassemble the packaging and try for the ultimate test - Tower 42 raised to its maximum height and elevation - 75 feet in the air! With great excitement and cheering from the entire crowd, each egg-static package was hurled to the ground at the speed of gravity. Some landed with a resounding 'WHUMP!' and spilled out their innards while others bounced gleefully, chuckling off the forces that sought to crush the eggshells inside. As each package was excitedly opened, the gathered crowds let out either a collective sigh or a forceful hooray at the results witnessed inside. It's safe to say that everyone who attended had a good time!
