The diameter of a crater D produced by the impact of a meteorid on a planetary s
ID: 3901387 • Letter: T
Question
The diameter of a crater D produced by the impact of a meteorid on a planetary surface is proportional to the Kinetic Energy by D=k*E^0.28 where k=2x10^-7 km/ergs^0.28
Consider a 500m diameter stony (p=3 g/cm^3) meteroide that impacts the moon at a speed 20 km/s
1.) Determine the diameter of the resulting crater.
2.) Characterize the apperance of the resulting crater (ie. simple bowl, central peak, complex, etc.)
3.) Suppose a meteriod of similar composition and size were to strike Murcury instead of the Moon. How would the resulting crater and ejecta blanket change?
Explanation / Answer
1)
p=3 g/cm^3 = 3000kg/m^3
mass of meteoriye = 3.14*4*250*250*250*3*10^3/3 = 6.6*10^10 kg
KE = 0.5*6.6*10^10*20*20*10^6 = 1.32*10^19 J = 1.32*10^17 ergs
Diameter = 2*10^-7*(1.32*10^17 )^0.28 = 12.44 m
2)
The resultig crater will be simple bowl shaped because the meteorite was sphericl in shape.
3)
In that case the crater would be of complex structure.