Can Eggs Balance On End? - A Spring Science Experiment

The myth has persisted that the equinox is the only day of year when an egg will balance upright. With this easy spring science experiment, your kids will have a great deal of fun trying to balance eggs on end, four days before or after the equinox (which falls on a Friday) to see if they can do it and thus prove the myth false.

Can Eggs Balance On End? – A Spring Science Experiment

Materials:

– Raw eggs ““ have at least one carton on hand because this might involve breaking a few before one gets the “hang” of it.

– Flat surface

– Water and lots of paper towels to clean up any broken eggs.

Introduction:

The first day of spring is March 20, which is also known as the vernal equinox. For most of the year, the Earth is tilted on its axis, which allows different amounts of sunshine to reach different parts of the globe creating seasons. But on the two equinoxes ““ one in spring and one in fall– the Earth is not tilted so the sun passes directly over the equator. On the equinoxes, day and night are equal in length, 12 hours each.

Many believe that only on the equinox, when day and night are equal in length, can you balance an egg upright.

Supposedly, this is because there is equal gravity between the earth and the sun on that day. To prove this myth wrong, an egg was successfully balanced outside of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis a full day before the Vernal Equinox.

Let’s see what we can prove ourselves this vernal equinox!

Instructions:

1. Leave the eggs out of the refrigerator for several hours, so that they are not cold. Cold can often cause the whites to clump on one side, therefore creating an imbalance.

2. Select an egg whose base is slightly rough as that will help support the egg. This is because on the bottom of an egg you will find tiny bumps in the shell. Those bumps are simply irregularities in the eggshell that hold the egg up.

3. Select a flat surface that is not brightly polished and is not glass. A helpful surface is a pliable, fabric place mat, on which one teacher was able to make the egg stand up after only about 20 seconds of trying.

4. Try to balance the egg.

5. Be persistent and patient.

Explanation:

An egg standing on end has nothing to do with the spin of the earth, for which all liquids and solids adjust – even ones the size of the ocean. It has to do with the contents of the shell, which fall between liquid and solid and can be tricky to balance.

Conclusion:

The egg is a lot like God. People think he won’t “stand up” for us if we’ve behaved badly, don’t have enough faith, or can’t believe he hears our prayers. After all, with so many people in the world with so many different problems how can he listen to everyone and solve everything? But, like the egg, God will stand up for us at any time of the day, month, week or year that we call on Him – if we are patient and persistent. He will be our advocate and He will never “fall down” on the job! So let’s have faith and believe He will stand up for us – any day of the year.

You might also be interested in these other fun spring science experiment & activity ideas!