In this installment of CCSD Spotlight on Science, we visit Mr. David Stoelzel's Earth and Space Science Classes as he debuts a new lab demonstrating the formation of impact craters, which was inspired by the recent Artemis II Mission.
The lab, called "Cratering The Cosmos" is an exploration of how the kinetic energy of an asteroid affects the size and shape of an impact crater on the surface of a planet or other celestial body. The impacts were simulated using three different steel balls of different sizes, and the surface was a topographic sandbox in the classroom. Velocity was also adjusted by dropping the objects from different heights.
When an asteroid strikes a surface, the energy immediately transfers to the ground on impact, which displaces material called "Ejecta", and allows the familiar Bowl Shape to form in its place.
Come along for the fun!