Small Bodies of the Solar System Worksheet

Directions: For this activity, you will view a demonstration of simulated small solar bodies striking a planet's surface or moon and their impact results.
View the entire demonstration before documenting any information on your activity worksheet.
You may need to pause the video occasionally to complete your worksheet.
*Note: all spheres were dropped from the same height of 60 cm.

Data Table:
Complete the data table with the information from the video. The mass and diameter for sphere four have been filled in for you.
Sphere
Mass (g)
Diameter (cm)
Crater Depth
1



2



3



4
3.5
2.05

5




Graph:
Create a graph illustrating the object’s mass and crater depth.
Answer any questions or statements in the “Analysis” section.

Analysis:
Based on your data from the graph, describe the relationship between mass and crater depth.
If the spheres were dropped from a height of 120 cm, how would that affect the appearance of their impact craters?
If an asteroid strikes the Moon’s surface at a 45-degree angle, how would that affect the appearance of its impact crater?
Describe the differences you will likely observe when comparing an impact crater from an asteroid striking Earth at a 90-degree angle and an impact crater hitting Earth at a 45-degree angle.
Describe some of the likely consequences resulting from a direct impact of a small solar body on Earth.