Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

My son's project involves testing an egg dropped while wrapped in different types of bubble wrap (small circles, large circles, squares) and comparing which type is better. I have a good handle on how to design the experiment and how to analyze it but I'm having a problem with the background information. I have been unable to find information that explains why one size or shape of air bubble would be better than another. I have researched cushioning and packaging and still can't find a clear answer. Any help would be appreciated.

cvetwhite wrote:involves testing an egg dropped while wrapped in different types of bubble wrap (small circles, large circles, squares) and comparing which type is better. ... I have been unable to find information that explains why one size or shape of air bubble would be better than another.

You have already decided to do a scientific experiment to evaluate the different types of bubble wrap in an egg drop experiment, so why do you need research from others?

Try rolling a piece of "large bubble" wrap with the bubble sides in and see what the smallest diameter tube you can make without compressing bubbles. Try the same thing with "small bubble" wrap and see if the diameter is smaller. Compare these diameters to the egg. See what happens when you roll the wrap with the bubbles out. Think about these differences when you form your hypothesis. The fun thing about science is that you aren't going to know the results until you perform the experiment.

I suspect that there are specifications on the different bubble wrap materials that involve placing bubble wrap between parallel flat surfaces that are some standard size like a square foot that states the minimum PSI required to burst the material.

Sealed Air, the original producer of Bubble Wrap has a not very scientific selection guide http://www.sealedairprotects.com/NA/EN/ ... lewrap.pdf

-Craig

I guess I don't so much need research from others as I need background information on which to base and support the hypothesis. He is required to have several paragraphs of background info and I'm not sure sure how to fill them.

I had previously found the Sealed Air selection guide and didn't find it helped enough.

I will try what you suggested and see if that helps.

Thank you for the advice.