The Effect of the Height of a Crater on Its Diameter

1363 Words3 Pages

The Effect of the Height of a Crater on Its Diameter

Introduction

============

A crater is formed when a meteor for outer space strikes the lunar

surface. The force of the impact obliterates the meteorite and

displaces part of the moons surface, pushing the edges surrounding

rock. At the same time, more displaced material shoots outward from

the crater.

I will simulate this in the classroom by using a margarine tub full of

sand and using different heights to represent the distance it

travelled. I will then drop the balls from my chosen heights.

The sand = The moons surface.

The balls =The meteors

Variables:

All the variables that I can change and what can affect my experiment

are;

* The height in which I drop the ball from.

* The amount of sand in the tub.

* The size of the different individual balls.

* The weight of the balls.

* Speed of which the balls are travelling at.

* The surface type

* The angle of which the ball hits the ground.

All of these changes could affect my final results. I will have to

take these into consideration when doing my experiment.

Aim:

I have chosen to do the different heights that I drop the ball from. I

will use only one type of ball to keep my results the same. In the

experiment I will be measuring the diameter of the crater and see how

the height effects this.

Labelled diagram:

I will measure the diameter of the creator using a compass then

measure the width of the compass against an accurate ruler.

Equipment list.

1 X Retort stand.

1 X Margarine tub.

1 X steel ball bearing 16.7g

1 X 1 metre ruler.

1 X compass.

2 cm of sand in a 50g margarine tub.

Method:

· Collect all the equipment that is listed in the apparatus list

Open Document