What uses elastics as a means of shock absorber?

Question

i am doing a physics project, where you have to drop and egg from a three story building without it breaking. But the research paper is due tomorrow. I am going to use elastics as shock absorber, but i need some real life uses of it. thanks

Answer 1

A shock absorber usually uses two complimentary processes: spring action and dampening action.  A spring absorbs shock, but it oscillates, changing kinetic energy (the shock) to potential spring energy, and restoring it back to kinetic energy (the bounce back).  The damper turns kinetic energy into heat using friction--it can use a fluid or air or just two solids rubbing on each other.  A spring alone keeps oscillating and is not a good shock absorber.  A damper alone absorbs shock once, but does not return back to its original position to absorb another shock.  The combination of the two in the right proportions creates a critically damped shock absorber that turns the energy into heat and returns back to position to absorb the next shock.

Elastic usually exhibits more spring properties than dampening properties.  Some bike shock absorbers contain rubber rings or bands, but they also have a friction mechanism to make the ride less springy.  Larger vehicles usually use metal springs combined with a damper.  Bungee cords, of course, absorb the shock of a falling person, turning an otherwise dangerous fall into a thrill ride.  I think they use elastics.  But you continue to bounce a lot on a bungee because there's not much dampening forces.   Pure elastics might be enough to protect an egg from just one fall, but you might want to incorporate some slight friction to keep the bouncing from breaking the egg.  Like have some pillow fluff around the elastic mechanism to stop the bouncing.