# What magnitude and duration of earthquake would it take to scramble chicken eggs in the shell? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 26, 2011, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-magnitude-and-duration-of-earthquake-would-it-take-to-scramble-chicken-eggs-in-the-shell/594128 "2011-08-26T02:33:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-magnitude-and-duration-of-earthquake-would-it-take-to-scramble-chicken-eggs-in-the-shell/594128/1 "2011-08-26T02:33:25Z")
We will use a carton of eggs in the grocers dairy fridge packaged for retail sale. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-magnitude-and-duration-of-earthquake-would-it-take-to-scramble-chicken-eggs-in-the-shell/594128/2 "2011-08-26T03:24:01Z")
This needs empirical data to answer factually, and I do not have any eggs at hand at the moment, and do not know how to simulate various Richter-scale seismic results. IMHO as a home cook, any earthquake that would generate sufficient shaking to cause an egg to scramble in the shell would also cause the eggs to impact a floor-like surface where they would be broken before the yolks could actually scramble _in situ_. Also, yolks, even when scrambled in controlled kitchen conditions, generally require at least some degree of purposeful puncturing of the membrane to scramble. And lastly, an egg’s contents have very little air space allowing minimal movement inside the shell for the violence that would be required for scrambling. ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-magnitude-and-duration-of-earthquake-would-it-take-to-scramble-chicken-eggs-in-the-shell/594128/3 "2011-08-26T04:14:20Z")
I wasn’t able to find anything online about chicken-egg transport, but I did find an article about [transport of kiwi and emu eggs](http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/science-and-technical/casn341.pdf). Apparently accelerations of up to 2 g’s don’t have a significant effect on embryonic development, which (I assume) means that the yolk would not break under such an acceleration. Only a few earthquakes have [exceeded 2 _g_ at peak acceleration](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_ground_acceleration#Notable_earthquakes), so you’re going to need a mighty strong earthquake to scramble your eggs in the shell. My guess would be that there hasn’t been an earthquake recorded that was strong enough to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-magnitude-and-duration-of-earthquake-would-it-take-to-scramble-chicken-eggs-in-the-shell/594128/4 "2011-08-26T05:33:59Z")
> [@MikeS](#): > > I wasn’t able to find anything online about chicken-egg transport, but I did find an article about [transport of kiwi and emu eggs](http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/science-and-technical/casn341.pdf). Apparently accelerations of up to 2 g’s don’t have a significant effect on embryonic development, which (I assume) means that the yolk would not break under such an acceleration. Only a few earthquakes have [exceeded 2 _g_ at peak acceleration](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_ground_acceleration#Notable_earthquakes), so you’re going to need a mighty strong earthquake to scramble your eggs in the shell. My guess would be that there hasn’t been an earthquake recorded that was strong enough to do it. Ok. That’s disappointing. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-magnitude-and-duration-of-earthquake-would-it-take-to-scramble-chicken-eggs-in-the-shell/594128/5 "2011-08-26T05:59:54Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > Ok. That’s disappointing. Disappointing, reassuring. Tomato, tomahto. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-magnitude-and-duration-of-earthquake-would-it-take-to-scramble-chicken-eggs-in-the-shell/594128/6 "2011-08-26T13:06:16Z")
Not scramble, **addle**. Scrambled eggs have been cooked. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-magnitude-and-duration-of-earthquake-would-it-take-to-scramble-chicken-eggs-in-the-shell/594128/7 "2011-08-26T14:39:07Z")
Given the lack of air space and the lack of a untensil to pierce membranes and stir things around, I can’t imagine any realistic way to apply enough force to scramble/addle the eggs without breaking the shell. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-magnitude-and-duration-of-earthquake-would-it-take-to-scramble-chicken-eggs-in-the-shell/594128/8 "2011-08-26T15:15:49Z")
This can be an easy ‘n’ fun experiment. 1. Buy a carton of eggs 2. Tape them up really well so the carton doesn’t fly open. 3. Go to the hardware store. Put the eggs in the paint shaker. 4. Start at low speed, then take out one egg to see if it scrambled. 5. Repeat at higher levels until you finally get an egg to scramble. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-magnitude-and-duration-of-earthquake-would-it-take-to-scramble-chicken-eggs-in-the-shell/594128/9 "2011-08-26T15:16:57Z")
if ultrasonic vibrations could be applied to the shell (in a manner without breaking it, like a fluid bath) that might mix the contents given enough time and the right egg. earthquake test might be simulated with a paint mixer. either would make a fun experiment. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-magnitude-and-duration-of-earthquake-would-it-take-to-scramble-chicken-eggs-in-the-shell/594128/10 "2011-08-26T15:22:31Z")
You do realize that if you can determine the earthquake energy required to scramble eggs in the shell, and actually do it, there would be no one alive to actually eat them. I mean, what a waste of eggs! ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-magnitude-and-duration-of-earthquake-would-it-take-to-scramble-chicken-eggs-in-the-shell/594128/11 "2011-08-26T15:43:45Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > This can be an easy ‘n’ fun experiment. > > 1. Buy a carton of eggs > 2. Tape them up really well so the carton doesn’t fly open. > 3. Go to the hardware store. Put the eggs in the paint shaker. > 4. Start at low speed, then take out one egg to see if it scrambled. > 5. Repeat at higher levels until you finally get an egg to scramble. 1. Now that we know what it takes to scramble an egg in a carton, try it with the egg inside a chicken. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-magnitude-and-duration-of-earthquake-would-it-take-to-scramble-chicken-eggs-in-the-shell/594128/12 "2011-08-26T16:30:03Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > 1. Now that we know what it takes to scramble an egg in a carton, try it with the egg inside a chicken. I have some tentative figures here, but they only apply to spherical chickens in a vacuum. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-magnitude-and-duration-of-earthquake-would-it-take-to-scramble-chicken-eggs-in-the-shell/594128/13 "2011-08-26T19:41:00Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Not scramble, **addle**. Scrambled eggs have been cooked. While “scrambled eggs” refers to cooked eggs the verb scramble can be used in a generic way to refer to anything that’s been “mixed together confusedly” ([dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com)). Not that it needs to be since we have perfectly good alternatives in whisk or mix. The online dictionary also does not confirm your use of addle, which it defines as “to make or become rotten.” > [@Gary\_T](#): > > Given the lack of air space and the lack of a untensil to pierce membranes and stir things around, I can’t imagine any realistic way to apply enough force to scramble/addle the eggs without breaking the shell. It’s definilty possible to break the yolk in an egg by shaking it hard and long enough by hand. I’m not sure how long it would take to get it mixed enough to be considered scrambled, though. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-magnitude-and-duration-of-earthquake-would-it-take-to-scramble-chicken-eggs-in-the-shell/594128/14 "2011-08-27T02:16:00Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > … > 3) Go to the hardware store. Put the eggs in the paint shaker. > 4) Start at low speed, then take out one egg to see if it scrambled. > 5) Repeat at higher levels until you finally get an egg to scramble. How do you calibrate the paint shaker to the Richter scale? ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-magnitude-and-duration-of-earthquake-would-it-take-to-scramble-chicken-eggs-in-the-shell/594128/15 "2011-08-27T02:21:36Z")
The freshness of the egg is an important variable. ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-magnitude-and-duration-of-earthquake-would-it-take-to-scramble-chicken-eggs-in-the-shell/594128/16 "2011-08-27T02:46:42Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > I have some tentative figures here, but they only apply to spherical chickens in a vacuum. Would those figures also work for a spherical chicken on a treadmill in a vacuum? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-magnitude-and-duration-of-earthquake-would-it-take-to-scramble-chicken-eggs-in-the-shell/594128/17 "2011-08-27T17:19:51Z")
You could insert an empty syringe via hyperdermic needle and rapidly pump and withdraw air (pressure) from the yolk/egg interface. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Niply\_Elder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@The\_Niply\_Elder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Niply_Elder)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-magnitude-and-duration-of-earthquake-would-it-take-to-scramble-chicken-eggs-in-the-shell/594128/18 "2011-08-27T18:33:29Z")
Probably the most efficient way of scrambling an egg invoves not only a pure linear shaking, but introduces some rotation. For instance if you shake an egg with a slight wrist motion, the rotation will cause high shear stress in the albumen, breaking the various internal membranes holding the yolk and eventually breaking the yolk membrane itself. Then a linear shaking should do well to mix the yolk and albumen that have different densities. ---
**Author:** ![Amblydoper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-magnitude-and-duration-of-earthquake-would-it-take-to-scramble-chicken-eggs-in-the-shell/594128/19 "2011-08-28T16:21:16Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > How do you calibrate the paint shaker to the Richter scale? Put a seismograph in the paint shaker? ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-magnitude-and-duration-of-earthquake-would-it-take-to-scramble-chicken-eggs-in-the-shell/594128/20 "2011-08-28T22:36:25Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > How do you calibrate the paint shaker to the Richter scale? You don’t, as **MikeS** pointed out the key reading here is peak acceleration, which doesn’t always correlate to magnitude in a straight line fashion. For example the September 2010 Canterbury earthquake had a magnitude of 7.1 but lower peak acceleration than the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake: [QUOTE=wikipedia] The vertical acceleration was far greater than the horizontal acceleration.[29] The intensity felt in Christchurch was MM VIII.[30] The peak ground acceleration (PGA) in central Christchurch exceeded 1.8g (i.e. 1.8 times the acceleration of gravity),[31] with the highest recording 2.2g, at Heathcote Valley Primary School,[3] a shaking intensity equivalent to MM X+.[32] This is the highest PGA ever recorded in New Zealand; the highest reading during the September 2010 event was 1.26g, recorded near Darfield.[31] [/QUOTE]