Did Impacts Create Features On Mars?

(source: NASA Mars and Earth Science Learning)

Overview

  • Participants use trays of sand and a variety ofsolid objects to model the effects of “impactors” on the surface.

Big Ideas

  • Scientists rely on laboratory experimentsand modeling to better understand and testtheir ideas.
  • A model is different from the real thing butcan be used to learn something about thereal thing.
  • Similar investigations rarely come outexactly the same.

Materials

  • Tray with sand.
  • Sand to cover surface of tray to a depth ofabout 5 cm (2 in)
  • Various objects in different sizes shapes to use as “impactors”
  • Scale
  • Meter stick
  • Mars Images

Procedures

Cratering Process

1. Use the balance to measure the mass of each impactor. Record the mass on the “Data Chart.”

2. Drop impactor from a height of 30 cm onto the prepared surface.

3. Measure the diameter and depth of the resulting crater.

4. Note the presence of ejecta (rays). Count the rays, measure, and determine the average length of all the rays.

5. Record measurements and any other observations you have about the appearance of the crater on the Data Chart.

6. Make three trials and compute the average values.

7. Repeat steps for impactor #1, increasing the drop heights to 60 cm, 90 cm, and 2 meters.

8. Complete the Data Chart for this impactor. Note that the higher the drop height, the faster the impactor hits the surface.

7. Now repeat steps 1 through 6 for two more impactors. Use a separate Data Chart for each impactor.

Names ______

______

Did Impacts Create Features On Mars?

1. Select two Images you think were formed by impacts. Explain why you chose these images.

a. Image #______– ______

______

______

b. Image #______– ______

______

______

Gathering Information

What does your surface look like before testing?

Take your tray and place it on the floor. Complete the tables. (Note – Smooth your tray between each drop!)

Impact Test 1

Impact Craters – Data Chart (drop height = 30 cm)

Mass of Impactor – ______grams.

Trial #1 / Trial #2 / Trial #3 / Total / Average
Crater Diameter
Crater
Depth

Impact Craters – Data Chart (drop height = 60 cm)

Trial #1 / Trial #2 / Trial #3 / Total / Average
Crater Diameter
Crater
Depth

Impact Craters – Data Chart (drop height = 90 cm)

Trial #1 / Trial #2 / Trial #3 / Total / Average
Crater Diameter
Crater
Depth

Impact Test 2

Impact Craters – Data Chart (drop height = 30 cm)

Mass of Impactor – ______grams.

Trial #1 / Trial #2 / Trial #3 / Total / Average
Crater Diameter
Crater
Depth

Impact Craters – Data Chart (drop height = 60 cm)

Trial #1 / Trial #2 / Trial #3 / Total / Average
Crater Diameter
Crater
Depth

Impact Craters – Data Chart (drop height = 90 cm)

Trial #1 / Trial #2 / Trial #3 / Total / Average
Crater Diameter
Crater
Depth

Impact Test 3

Impact Craters – Data Chart (drop height = 30 cm)

Mass of Impactor – ______grams.

Trial #1 / Trial #2 / Trial #3 / Total / Average
Crater Diameter
Crater
Depth

Impact Craters – Data Chart (drop height = 60 cm)

Trial #1 / Trial #2 / Trial #3 / Total / Average
Crater Diameter
Crater
Depth

Impact Craters – Data Chart (drop height = 90 cm)

Trial #1 / Trial #2 / Trial #3 / Total / Average
Crater Diameter
Crater
Depth

Reasoning (What does our data tell us about how the height the object is dropped and the mass of the impactor affects size/depth of crater.)

Communication (How does the height the object is dropped and the mass of the impactor affect size/depth of crater?)

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