A crowd gathered near Shafer Tower as 44 Ball State University students with 15 gravity-defying contraptions participated in the Red Bull Gravity Challenge on Wednesday.
The Gravity Challenge tested students' ability to develop a device that when dropped 50 feet would not harm the egg inside it. Contestants were judged on creativity, originality and conditions of the eggs when they landed.
Team Gravitron won first place in the competition. The team received tickets to watch the Red Bull Air Race later this year in Detroit.
The Red Bull Air Race is an international airplane race in which contestants maneuver at high speeds through cloth pylons in an obstacle course, according to Red Bull's Web site.
The team also received a $200 gas card and free hotel stay in the city.
Freshman Ryan Leveque, captain for team Gravitron, said he plans on coming back next year to defend the championship.
His team joined the competition because it would allow the group to attend the Red Bull Air Race, which will help his team develop ideas for Red Bull's Flugtag, an event in which competitors attempt to fly homemade machines, on September 6 in Chicago.
Gravitron's device for the egg drop was a miniature bell tower with several small parachutes to ease the landing of the egg.
Sophomore Adam Wright, member of team Sir Newton, said the team's concept for the landing machine was based on an invention by Sir Isaac Newton.
Elizabeth Ransbottom, speech pathology graduate student, said she enjoyed the event and wanted to be a contestant next year.
The Gravity Challenge had three celebrity judges: Paul Sommer, member of S.T.A.R.T.; Mike Martin, owner of Doc's Music Hall and member of the Mike Martin Band; and Ball State basketball player Peyton Stovall.
"I wanted to judge the competition because I am about to graduate from Ball State and I wanted to come out and have fun with my fellow students," Stovall said.
The event also featured free Red Bull, live music from disc jockey Metronome and an announcer.
The Gravity Challenge will continue to tour college campuses all around the U.S.
AwardsFirst place - A $200 gas card, hotel stay in Detroit and tickets to watch the Red Bull Air Race later this year
Second place - The team's weight in Red Bull, which was 45 cases
Third place - A $250 bar tab
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