1. An equation is derived which relates the maximum force, P m , exerted on an egg shell to the relative velocity, v 0 , of the egg and a body on which it impacts and to their masses, M 1 and M 2 , and stiffnesses, S 1 and S 2 ; it is 2. Another equation is derived which relates the maximum force exerted by the egg to the reciprocals, R a and R e , of its average and first principal curvatures at the point of impact, to the shell thickness, T ε , that is effective in respect of tensile strength, and to the ultimate strength of shell material, St u ; it is P m = kStuT ε R χ α (Ra/Re)y in which k, χ and y are constants.3. These equations are shown to be concordant with published data on egg shell fracture under both quasi-static and dynamic conditions when x and y have the values -1 and 0 respectively. 4. The equations provide a theoretical structure that can be used to identify the factors likely to affect egg shell fracture under specified conditions.

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