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Crater Size and Kinetic Energy: Exploring Mass, Height, and Force
Objective:
Students will model how lunar craters form by dropping different balls into sand. They will investigate how variables like height and mass affect crater size.
Here’s a ready-to-use middle school science lab on lunar crater formation using the classic method of dropping balls into sand. It’s hands-on, NGSS-aligned, and helps students understand impact craters and planetary geology.
NGSS Alignment:
MS-ESS1-1: Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system.
MS-PS2-2: Plan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object’s motion depends on the sum of the forces on the object.
Science Practices: Developing and using models, Planning and carrying out investigations, Analyzing and interpreting data.
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· Answer Key