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How does the drop height of the marble affect the size of the crater in sand?

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Aim

To determine whether the height at which a marble is dropped affect the size of the crater.

Scientific knowledge

Impact craters are geologic structures formed when a large meteorite, asteroid or comet smashes in to a planet or a satellite. Meteorites are small rocks in space that hit the earth's atmosphere at a high velocity. Throughout their history they have heavily bombarded all the inner bodies in our solar system. In this experiment we will use marbles as our meteorites, these will be free falling objects that will be used to copy an asteroid impact. The surfaces of the Moon, Mars and Mercury, where other geologic processes stopped millions of years ago, record this bombardment clearly. On the Earth, however, which has been …show more content…

Below is a diagram showing all the energy conversions involved: -

Some important factors that affect the size of the crater are, the weight of the marble, the size and shape of the marble, the depth and type of sand, the material of the marble and the speed at which the marble is thrown.

Prediction

I predict that as the height at which the marble is dropped increases, the size of the crater will also increase. This will be the same with both marbles. The reason for the increase is due to the increase in kinetic energy as indicated by PE = mgh. Also as the height increases so does the potential energy and consequently so does the kinetic and impact energy. The marble has gravitational potential energy and when it is higher it gains more energy and so this has a greater force on the sand making the crater bigger. Therefore I predict the graph to look like this: -

Apparatus

o Plastic tub

o Fine sand

o Large marble

o Small marble

o Clamp

o Ring stand

o Table

o Meter stick

o Notebook

o Pen

o Weighing scales

Diagram

Method

o Set up apparatus as shown, making sure that the meter stick is placed vertical near the edge of the sand tub and. It should also be level with the sand.

o Start with the small marble and drop it from 10cm, do not apply any force to the marble and make sure it lands somewhere in the middle of the tub.

o Once it has landed in the sand, carefully remove the marble and

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