Fire Captain Assists Physics Students

Physics students at Ida Crown Jewish Academy in Skokie last week headed to the nearby fire Station 17 to test their eggs as they were dropped several stories from the fire drill tower. Captain of the fire prevention bureau Kathy Furgala (pictured) joined the experiment by providing the height values for the calculations and even assisted in dropping the eggs.

The egg drop is a classic physics experiment where students construct a contraption that can protect a raw egg from breaking, when it’s dropped from a considerable height. The key to keeping the egg safe is to have a contraption that has some “give” in it. The longer the egg takes to come to rest the less force it will experience.

Physics teacher, Chavee Gottlieb says, “What’s a science teacher to do when she wants her physics students to benefit from the learning of the egg drop in a new state-of-the-art, single story building? She asks a favor of some neighbors.”

This experiment provided a rich opportunity for learning (even with the less than ideal weather conditions), and an opportunity for ICJA students to interact with the heroes that live next door.

Since moving to the school’s new location on Central Park one year ago, ICJA students have already visited the fire station on several occasions, including impromptu basketball games during lunch break and delivering homemade cookies in December. On our other side, ICJA students volunteer in classrooms and as tutors at Middleton Elementary school every week.