x
Breaking News
More () »

A new world record? Tiffin Calvert student may have cracked the record books with successful 400-foot egg drop

Senior Jacob Ronbach was able to protect his egg from cracking at the highest point they could legally fly a drone.

TIFFIN, Ohio — Everyone knows the phrase: "You have to break a few eggs to make an omelet."

But in one student's case, the goal was to keep the egg whole to potentially break a new record.

Earlier this week, the senior physics class at Tiffin Calvert held an egg drop challenge to see who could design the best protective container.

But instead of dropping from a stairwell or building, they dropped from a drone.

And as senior Jacob Ronbach emerged as the victor, they wanted to see exactly how high his design could go.

"I was expecting like 50 feet, that'd be pretty cool," Ronbach said. "But we just kept going and it didn't break."

"And we went up to 400 feet. It was nuts!" Tiffin Calvert physics and chemistry teacher, John Shupp said.

Ronbach's use of pipe cleaners threaded through straws not only cushioned the egg's landing but inadvertently slowed the egg's fall.

"The pipe cleaners take up some of the shock," Ronbach said. "And then also, I didn't originally design it for like wind resistance but it definitely helped."

After the challenge, teacher John Shupp looked up the world record and it currently sits at 54.13 feet.

Schupp and drone pilot Bruce Chambers hope this challenge can show other educators there are a ton of ways to work drones into their curriculum.

"It's the perfect idea for it. So already we've had a couple other high schools ask me if the drone is available if we can't get high enough," Chambers said.

Credit: Jon Monk
Chambers' business The Dronefather is innovating ways to utilize drone technology for education and public safety.

Jacob is set to attend Ohio State University to study civil engineering.

But he says he's already learned a valuable engineering lesson that sometimes you can have an accidental outcome that turns out better than you planned.

"It's trial and error, and sometimes special things happen when you don't even try to do it," Ronbach said.

Schupp said he has reached out to both Guinness World Records and Record Setters to see if this does break the world record officially.

But they're going to have to wait to hear the final results.

Before You Leave, Check This Out