Lunar Crater Lab
What is a Crater?
• Round depressions in the surface
• Caused by a meteorite hitting the surface
What is the purpose of the lab?
• Learn about what variables change the
appearance of a crater.
– Size
– Speed
– Angle
Pre-Lab
• What did the tray with the 2 powders represent?
– Surface of the Moon
• Why did we use flour and hot chocolate mix?
– To show the planets can have multiple layers within
its surface
– To show how the surface will react when hit by an
object
Pre-Lab Continued
• What do the different sized rocks represent?
– Meteorites
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzIw0c_M
jTc
Experiment One
• Varying Rock Sizes
• 30 cm Height
Experiment One - Results
• Larger Rocks
– Larger crater diameter
– Longer Rays
• Formed by bottom
layer (flour)
Experiment Two
• Small Rock
• Different Heights / Velocity
– 30 cm
– 60 cm
– 90 cm
Experiment Two - Results
• Higher Height = Greater Velocity/Speed
• Larger Rays
• Slightly Larger Crater
Experiment Three
• Small Rock
• 30 cm Height
• Different Angles
Experiment Three - Results
• Larger Angle
– Greater Raised Rim on One Side
– Greater Rays
Why did you test each of the
rocks 3 times?
• Remove Outliers
• Consistency
What did the 30 cm, small rock,
straight down trial represent?
• Control
• Trial to compare the variables against
What happens to real meteorites after
they hit earth/moon?
• Break Up
• Get Buried
Experimental Errors
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Different Shaped Rocks
Different textured Rocks
Dropping at slightly different heights
Measuring the diameter vertically and not
horizontally (or visa versa)
Taking the rock out disrupted crater
Different angles
Different speeds
Flour at different depths
Cocoa not on top of the flour
Cocoa not in even layer
Dropping a rock on a previous crater