The rocks from space that leave craters on the Earth only make impact every century or two, but why wait when you can make your own? Register to explore the whole course here: https://school.bighistoryproject.com/bhplive?WT.mc_id=Slideshare12202017

1. STUDENT MATERIALS
Page 1
MAKING CRATERS!
BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 5.4 ACTIVITY
Purpose:
This activity investigates the formation of craters. You will see how the size,
angle, and speed of a meteorite’s impact affect the properties of craters. This
should help you more deeply understand the impact of space objects on Earth,
and should play into how you support your Predicting Disaster closing activity
answers.
Process:
In this experiment, you are going to test how the size, speed, and angle of a
meteoroid’s impact affect the size of the crater that is formed.
Procedure:
Fill your basin with flour (about 1 ¼ to 1 ½ inches deep), and sprinkle some
cocoa on the surface. The cocoa will make the changes of the impact appear
more visible. Make sure you have three different sized pebbles to be your
“meteoroids.”
Complete all three parts of this simulation. Enter your predictions, data,
observations, and conclusions in Data Table 1.
Part 1: Testing the Size of the Meteoroid:
1. Pick out one of the smallest pebbles and as a group, predict what will
happen to the flour when you drop that pebble from eye level. Record the
prediction on the worksheet.
2. Then, have one person from the group drop (not throw) the pebble from
about eye level into the flour.
3. Describe what you observe, measure the diameter of the crater, and
record this information in Data Table 1.
4. If needed, smooth out the flour mixture and sprinkle a little more cocoa on
top, and then drop a medium-sized pebble from the same height. Note the
differences between the two craters.
5. Describe what you observe, measure the diameter of the crater, and
record this information. Now, predict what will happen if you drop the
largest pebble.
6. If needed, smooth out the flour mixture and sprinkle a little more cocoa
on top, and then drop the largest pebble from the same height. Note the
differences between the medium and large craters.
7. Describe what you observe, measure the diameter of the crater, and
record this information in the data table.
8. Now that you have tried three different sizes of meteoroids, draw a
conclusion about how the size of the meteoroid affects the size of the
crater. Record this conclusion in Data Table 1.
Part 2: Testing the Speed of the Meteoroid:
Once you are done testing size, you will test speed. For this experiment, you
need three or four pebbles that are about the same size. Once you have your
pebbles, follow these directions:
1. Smooth out the flour and sprinkle more cocoa on top. Predict what
would happen if you dropped the pebble from knee height, and write your
prediction on the worksheet.
2. Then, have one person from the group drop (not throw) the pebble from
about knee level into the flour.
3. Describe what you observe, measure the diameter of the crater, and
record this information in Data Table 1.
4. Try to predict the appearance of a crater formed by a pebble dropped from
eye level.
5. If needed, smooth out the flour mixture and sprinkle a little more cocoa
on top, and then drop the same sized pebble from eye level. Note the
differences between the crater made from dropping the pebble from knee
height and a crater made from dropping a pebble from eye level.

2. STUDENT MATERIALS
Page 2
MAKING CRATERS!
BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 5.4 ACTIVITY
6. Describe what you observe, measure the diameter of the crater, and
record this information in the data table. Now, predict what will happen if
you drop the pebble from the height of a raised hand.
7. Now, drop the pebble from over your head (hold up your arm like you
are raising your hand, and drop it from that height). Note the differences
between the crater made from dropping the pebble from eye level and a
crater made from dropping the pebble from over your head.
8. Describe what you observe, measure the diameter of the crater, and
record this information.
9. Now that you have tried three different speeds of meteoroids, draw a
conclusion about how the speed of the meteoroid at impact affects the
size of the crater. Record this conclusion in Data Table 1.
Part 3: Testing the Size of the Angle of Impact:
For the last part of the experiment, you are going to test the angle of the impact.
Follow these directions:
1. Smooth out the flour and sprinkle more cocoa on top. Predict what will
happen when throwing a pebble vertically into the basin.
2. Then, have one person from the group throw, with moderate force, a
pebble from about waist height vertically into the basin.
3. Describe what you observe, measure the diameter of the crater, note the
shape of the crater, and record this information in Data Table 1.
4. Then, try to predict the appearance of a crater formed by a pebble thrown
from a slight angle.
5. If needed, smooth out the flour mixture and sprinkle a little more cocoa on
top, and then have someone throw a similar sized pebble, using moderate
force, into the basin. Note the differences between the crater made from
dropping the pebble from knee height and a crater made from dropping a
pebble from eye level. Did the shape of the crater change?
6. Describe what you observe, measure the diameter of the crater, note the
shape of the crater, and record this information. Now, predict what will
happen if you throw a pebble, using moderate force, at a sharper angle
into the basin.
7. Now, using moderate force, throw the pebble into the flour at a sharper
(more acute) angle. Note the differences between the crater made from
throwing the pebble from a slight angle verses a sharper angle.
8. Describe what you observe, note the shape of the crater, measure the
diameter of the crater, and record this information in the data table.
9. Now that you have tried three different angles, draw a conclusion about
how the angle of the meteoroid affects the shape and size of the crater.
Record this conclusion in Data Table 1.

3. Name: Date:
STUDENT MATERIALS
Page 3
MAKING CRATERS!
BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 5.4 ACTIVITY
Data Table 1
Testing the Size of the Meteoroid Testing the Speed of the Meteoroid Testing the Angle of Impact
Record your predictions for: Record your predictions for: Record your predictions for:
Small pebble: Knee height: Vertical throw:
Medium pebble: Eye level: 45 degree angle:
Large pebble: Raised hand: Acute angle:
Record the crater diameter for: Record the crater diameter for: Record the crater diameter for:
Small pebble:
Observations:
Knee height:
Observations:
Vertical throw:
Observations:

4. Name: Date:
STUDENT MATERIALS
Page 4
MAKING CRATERS!
BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 5.4 ACTIVITY
Testing the Size of the Meteoroid Testing the Speed of the Meteoroid Testing the Angle of Impact
Medium pebble:
Observations:
Eye level:
Observations:
45 degree angle:
Observations:
Large pebble:
Observations:
Raised hand:
Observations:
Acute angle:
Observations:
Conclusions: Conclusions: Conclusions: