Meteoroids and the Craters They Make

Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive
In this activity, learners investigate the formation of craters. Learners will examine how the size, angle and speed of a meteorite's impact affects the properties of craters. Learners will measure and collect data on a data sheet and draw conclusions about their observations. Use this activity to familiarize learners with the terms meteor, meteoroid, and meteorite.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
45 to 60 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
$1 - $5 per student
Age Range:
Ages 6 - 14
Resource Types:
Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity, Simulation
Language:
English

Materials List (per student)

  • 1 or 2 shallow basins at least 1 square foot (30 centimeters), cat liter boxes work well
  • 1 or 2 bags of unbleached flour
  • 1 box of instant cocoa
  • Several pebbles, various sizes, 1/3 to 1 1/2 inches (1 to 4 centimeters)
  • 1 old newspaper
  • 1 ruler
  • 1 pen or pencil
  • 1 data sheet

Keywords

Subjects

  • Earth and Space Science
    • Astronomy
    • Earth Structure
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Atmosphere
    • Earth, Moon and Sun
  • Mathematics
    • Data Analysis and Probability
      • Data Analysis
      • Data Collection
    • Geometry
    • Measurement
      • Circles
  • Physical Sciences
    • Motion and Forces
      • Momentum and Velocity
  • The Nature of Science
    • The Scientific Process
      • Conducting Investigations
      • Gathering Data
      • Formulating Explanations
      • Communicating Results

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • be mobile
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights: