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_MjTc

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• 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