One In The Hand Eggs are traditionally thought of as being very
fragile, but in fact the physics behind their shape is
astounding. - raw egg - plastic bag or glove (for the
unconfident!) Challenge audience members to break the egg just
by squeezing it. Let them wrap the egg in a plastic bag or wear
a glove if they're worried… Believe it or not, it can't be done!
How Does it Work? 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 – which is why we usually tap the egg on
the side of a bowl to break it when cooking. Tips for Success
Ask your volunteers to remove any rings etc. before trying this
trick – the sharp uneven force from such metal objects can cause
the egg to break. Check your eggs for hairline fractures before
attempting this trick – if th