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Educational problem
When we look up at the Moon, we see a surface covered in craters, evidence that this Solar System object has been bombarded by impactors – but has the same happened here on Earth? How many times has the Earth been hit by space debris in the past and what is the possibility that we will be hit again in the future? What sort of objects strike us, and what effect does this have on life on Earth?
To answer these questions, we need to study the known impact craters on Earth, and use computer simulations to reproduce these impacts and investigate the types of impacting objects which produced these craters.
It is not feasible to travel to the sites of impact craters, but there are many tools available for students to be able to study them in their classrooms. By analyzing satellite images of impact craters on Earth, students can investigate the size of craters and comparisons can be made with distances local to their school or home. By then using an online impact simulator which is based upon the mathematics developed by research scientists in this field, they can change the size, velocity, and density of impactor, along with the angle of impact and other important parameters, and try to reproduce the impact craters which they have found in the images.
• Educational scenario objectives:
During this scenario, students will:
1. Learn about impact craters
2. Learn about the types of objects which collide with Earth
3. Learn about the effects of impacts on life on Earth
Download the PDF complete version by clicking on the following link: impact_craters_earth.pdf
Students will need the application: Google Earth.
Some parts of the exercise use Impact Calculator tool http://simulator.down2earth.eu/index.html
Validated by Discover the Cosmos +
Impact craters
Last update | 20/06/2013