An Instrumented Egg Drop Experiment In Support Of Courses In Mechanical Control And Experimental Analysis

Abstract

During the Fall Semester of 1996, digitized video and real time force data were used to determine the system characteristics necessary to model a bungee cord egg drop experiment as a damped second order system. This effort was unique, in that, video tape of student "drops" were digitized and analyzed to determine position, velocity, and acceleration, as a function of time, while simultaneous inline force data was acquired. Both sets of were used to determine the system damping factor and damped natural period. These parameters were then used by the students to calculate the system response with excellent results. An attempt was made to use the force data to infer acceleration, velocity, and final position during the first half cycle of motion. However, this effort was unsuccessful since the mass of the elastic cord was not negligible. The experience with the force data did highlight the subtleties associated with such an experiment, in terms of the overall goal of modeling the system as a damped second order system.

Practical Demonstration Units, Using Common Components, For An Introductory Thermodynamics Course

“…have designed their own low cost experiments in a follow on course in experimental methods in fluid and thermal sciences [6][7][8]. Low cost design, build, and test exercises are also required in another follow on course in thermal systems design [9][10].…”