1. Physics behind Asteroids, Impacts & Craters

2. Materials Basin Vernier Measuring tape Food dye, etc Impact objects
More measuring devices

3. Classroom Kit Sand Extra basins if needed
Storage cups for mixing dye & sand
Candles

4. Back to the task
“You are a space geophysicist but the high speed launch gun you use to launch projectiles at targets is getting repaired. Is there another way for the geophysicist to launch projectiles at the targets?”

5. What do we do? Identify the task at hand
Identify the materials needed/available
Carry out the task

6. Physics of Impacts & Craters
There’s a lot more than one type of physics employed here:
Energy (conservation of energy)
Newton’s Laws
Mass, Density, Volume
Collisions
Gravity
Trigonometry

7. What’s the Physics behind the Impact?
Energy
Is it possible to show conservation of energy?
Will require: EP Ek

8. What’s the Physics behind the Impact?

9. What’s the Physics behind the Impact?

10. What’s the Physics behind the Impact?

11. What’s the Physics behind the Impact?

12. What’s the Physics behind the Impact?

13. What’s the Physics behind the Impact?
Newton’s Laws
Newton’s 1st Law:
Every body will remain at rest or travelling at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an unbalanced external force
←It was here
(Before Impact)
It’s now here →
(After Impact)

14. What’s the Physics behind the Impact?
Newton’s Laws
Newton’s 2nd Law:
When a force moves an object, the rate of change of the body's momentum is directly proportional to the force applied, and takes place in the direction of the force
(F =ma)

15. What’s the Physics behind the Impact?
What force moves it from here ←
F = ma
To here→

16. What’s the Physics behind the Impact?
Newton’s Laws
Newton’s 3rd Law:
If a Body A exerts a force on a Body B, Body B exerts an equal but opposite force on body A; ie. Action and Reaction are equal

17. What’s the Physics behind the Impact?
←Here I used a marble.
What if I used a bigger marble?
What if I used an irregular shaped object?
What if I used a heavier object than the marble?

18. What’s the Physics behind the Impact?
Mass, Density, Volume
If we know two of the parameters, we can work out the third
Can we measure the mass?
Can we measure the density?
Can we measure the volume?
All three variables are measurable, but you only need two to discover the final one.

19. What’s the Physics behind the Impact?}
Collisions
Shows conservation of momentum
Would require timers/stopwatches
Time is a critical component
Requires keen eyesight and patience .
You will need to work out this time here somehow.

20. What’s the Physics behind the Impact?. . . . . .
Would want to be on the lookout for sand particles just about everywhere outside of the bowl. (Use a nice white background for contrast)

21. What’s the Physics behind the Impact?
Gravity
An experimental value for gravity could be worked out
Gravitational forces could be incorporated into the general theme of the experiment
What would one expect with an impact on different planetary surfaces?
Good tool to visually describe impacts on other surfaces
Not limited to sand. Could use other materials
Could work out time for impact (as before)
Could get students to work out value for gravity (crude)

22. What’s the Physics behind the Impact?
Trigonometry
Depending on mathematical background, could be introduced as a measuring technique for impact cratering
Would require basic measurements of marble depth.
Require diagrams and mathematical functioning
Reinforces the math & physics aspects

23. What’s the Physics behind the Impact?
Trigonometry
Could also introduce the use of other mediums
Google Maps

24. Recap Important to identify the physics involved
Develop a set of tasks based upon the physics
Keep the various aspects of physics relative to one another
Work the tasks into your timeframe
Interesting tasks makes for interesting physics