Why did higher drops make larger craters?]

When you hold a marble higher above the sand, it has further to fall.

As it falls, gravity pulls it faster and faster.

By the time it hits the sand, it is moving with more speed than a marble dropped from a lower height.

That extra speed means the marble transfers more energy into the sand during the collision.

The result is usually a larger and deeper crater.

Why does marble size matter?

A larger marble contains more mass.

When it strikes the sand, it carries more energy than a smaller marble travelling at the same speed.

This means larger objects often produce larger craters.

Scientists studying impact craters must consider both:

• How big was the object?

• How fast was it moving?

Both factors affect the final crater.

Scientists Investigate Ancient Collisions

The Moon has almost no wind, rain or flowing water.

Because of this, impact craters can survive for billions of years.

Scientists study these craters to learn:

• when impacts happened

• how often impacts occur

• how the Solar System formed

• What conditions existed long ago

Every crater tells part of the story.

Curiosity Spark

The asteroid that helped wipe out the dinosaurs created a crater almost 180 kilometres wide beneath modern-day Mexico.

Scientists believe the impact released more energy than billions of nuclear bombs combined.

If the same asteroid hit the Moon today, what clues do you think future scientists would see millions of years from now?