3 marksImpact craters are formed when meteorites strike the surface of a planet. A student investigated some factors that might influence the formation of impact craters. He did this by dropping spheres of modelling clay into a tray of sand.
The diameter of the crater produced by each sphere was measured using vernier calipers as shown.
This process was repeated for spheres of different diameters.
In one test, the spheres were dropped from the same height.
Determine the factor by which the kinetic energy of the sphere just before impact increases when the sphere diameter is increased from 2.0 cm to 4.0 cm.
Factor = .......................................................
6 marksThe student also dropped the spheres from different heights. His results are shown in the table.
| Drop height / m | Sphere diameter / cm | Crater diameter / cm |
| 0.30 | 2.0 | 3.6 |
| 4.0 | 7.0 | |
| 6.0 | 6.8 | |
| 0.60 | 2.0 | 4.8 |
| 4.0 | 7.5 | |
| 6.0 | 7.3 | |
| 0.90 | 2.0 | 5.6 |
| 4.0 | 8.0 | |
| 6.0 | 8.3 |
The student wrote the following conclusion:
“The greater the drop height, the greater the diameter of the crater formed when a sphere hits the sand. This is because the impact velocity increases as the drop height is increased. As the speed of the sphere increases the diameter of the crater formed also increases. Also, the bigger the sphere the bigger the crater.”
Assess the validity of the student’s conclusion.
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