Down to Earth Natural Events Investigating Impacts Learning Activities Activity 1: Does

Crater investigation one

In this investigation you will be looking at how craters are formed when different-sized objects hit the Earth’s surface.

To complete this activity

Read through the whole activity sheet carefully before you begin.
Print out the ‘Record page for crater investigation one’ and have it beside you when you are ready to start the investigation.
Carry out your investigation by following the instructions below.

Remember!Include this sheet and your record page in your portfolio.

Planning

In this experiment we will be looking at the effect of different-sized objects hitting a hard surface.

You will need:

three marbles of different sizes – small, medium and large (if marbles are not available, replacewith three rocks of different sizes)

three containers – roasting pans or foil baking trays are good (tray-shaped boxes or plastic containers can be used)

large bag of flour to fill three containers (can use soft white sand if no flour available)

cocoa (drinking chocolate or any other coloured powder can be used)

sifter (to spread the cocoa evenly over the flour)

rulers (for measuring)

newspaper to cover the floor (if activity is carried out inside)

broom for cleaning up.

Prediction (what will happen?)

Use your ‘Record page for crater investigation one’ to record the following predictions. You can write or draw your predictions.

1.What will happen if I drop a different-sized marble from exactly the same distance onto the box of flour?

2.Will it affect the size of the crater?

Conducting

To keep an experiment fair means everything stays the same and only one thing (called a variable) changes.

In this investigation you should consider the following questions.

What will change? / What will be measured or observed? / What will be kept the same (to make it fair)?
The size of the object (marble, rock etc) / The diameter of the crater
Patterns made by impact
Shape of the rim / Distance from which the drop is made
Same amount of flour and cocoa in each tray
How the object is dropped

Steps to follow

1.Place newspaper on the floor. Place the baking trays on top of the newspaper.

2.Fill the trays with flour and sprinkle a thin layer of cocoa on top. The flour will represent bedrock and the cocoa will represent the sandy surface of the Earth.

3.Drop one different-sized marble into each tray. Make sure this is done from exactly the same height each time. (Holding your arm straight out from your shoulder is a good idea.)

4.Remove the marbles very carefully and measure the diameter of each crater.

5.Record the measurements on your sheet.

6.After each drop you need to gently shake the pan to spread the flour. You may need to add more cocoa if necessary.

7.Repeat dropping the marbles and recording measurements two more times. You need to have a total of nine measurements. It is important to drop the objects from exactly the same height each time.

Processing and evaluating (what did you find out?)

Use your observations to help you explain what you found out. Record your observations on your ‘Record page for crater investigation one’.

Things to think about

What do you notice about the measurements?

What patterns do you see in the debris that scatters and inside the crater?

What things are the same?

What things are different?

What might affect how big craters will be?

Does the size of a meteoroid have anything to do with the size of the crater?