Lights Out

Your brain was not meant to be knocked about. Keeping it safe, supported and stable seems like common sense. Yet, we live in a society in which contact sports sometimes result in concussions. By modeling these events in mice, scientists are learning more about the process and consequences of head-banging. Results show that mice subjected to brain-jarring demonstrate impaired mental functions when compared to control animals.

by Michael DiSpezio

published online November 24, 2004

Softening the Impact

There are a variety of devices and strategies that reduce the impact of collision. Most depend upon the gradually decelerating the moving object(s). In this activity, you’ll create a simple device to soften the impact of a hurled egg. The egg’s rapid deceleration will protect it from cracking on impact. But don’t take our word for it. Try it yourself and see.




Safety goggles Old bed sheet Curtain rod Curtain rings Eggs Sealable plastic bags Needle and thread Marker SAFETY NOTES: 1. Make sure wall hangers support the curtain rod across a doorway. Students must not hold the curtain rod in place. advertisement \| article continues below 2. The egg must be placed in a sealed plastic bag before it is thrown. 3. Before throwing the egg, everyone in the room must put on a pair of safety goggles.




1. Obtain an old sheet. Sew a pouch along its bottom margin. The pouch should be about 5 inches (7.5 cm) wide. 2. Use a waterproof marker to draw a bull’s-eye in the center of the sheet. 3. Punch holes along the top edge of the sheet into which curtain rings can be inserted. 4. Insert the rings into the holes. Then pass the rings onto a curtain rod. 5. Support the curtain rod on hangers that extend across an open doorway. 6. Place an egg in a plastic bag. Seal the bag. 7. Make sure that everyone in the classroom is wearing protective safety goggles. Also ensure that no one is behind the doorway. 8. Toss an egg at the target. What happens when the egg strikes the sheet? 9. Try again but increase the speed of the throw. What happens now?

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