Final answer:
The factors that determine whether a car will break an egg are the average force exerted on the egg and the strength of the eggshell. Falling onto a padded or carpeted surface would reduce the force exerted on the eggshell.
Step-by-step explanation:
The key factors that determine whether a car will break an egg upon impact are the average force exerted on the egg and the strength of the eggshell.
When an object hits a surface, the force exerted on the object depends on its mass and the stopping distance, which is the distance over which the object comes to a stop.
To break an egg, the force exerted on the eggshell must be greater than the strength of the shell, which can vary depending on factors like the thickness and quality of the shell.
If the object falls onto a padded or carpeted surface instead of a hard surface like tile, the force exerted on the eggshell will be reduced because the surface absorbs some of the impact.
Therefore, the minimum height from which the object must fall to break the egg would be lower compared to falling onto a hard surface.
The specific height would depend on the characteristics of the padded or carpeted surface.