Background:  List everything you know about gravity and motion.

What would happen if an asteroid were to hit the surface of the earth?

Problem:  If an asteroid hit the Earth, how deep a crater would the impact create?

In this activity, the ideas of force and motion are introduced as you drop spheres of different masses to simulate asteroid impacts.  By varying a ball’s mass, and the height from which the ball is dropped you will explore what factors affect the depth of the crater.  You will also learn about data collection and the proper use of measurements and units.

Create a data table to include 3 different mass spheres, 3 different heights and 3 different trials for each.

    Tips for measuring and labeling your data table.

    The metric ruler should be easy to read the depth of the crater.   You need to be able to read the height in     which you are dropping the sphere.

    How specific do you want your data. .  Will you use a triple beam balance to measure the mass of the spheres?  Or will you go for the general relative mass?  Light, Medium and Heavy.
 

Analysis:

    What is the relationship between mass, height and the depth of impact?
    What measurement makes the difference in depth             mass               height?

Conclusion

    What is Force?

 Using poster paper, draw your set up
    Write your background, problem and purpose (can be done on separate paper and glued on to the poster paper.)
         Draw the data table with the measurements
 write a paragraph about what you observed using the questions and answers.
 Graph the average of the impact depths
 Define force as it relates to impact of asteroid.