Simulated Meteor impact in slow motion
posted on YouTube by ultraslo 31,970 views
"This slow motion impact video is a good model for how craters are formed on the surface of the moon. When we observe real lunar craters, we see all the below described impact features, but there are a few limitations in this model. This is ok, because you've made a scientific model - all scientific models have limitations, and when we identify those limitations, we have an even better understanding of what is being represented.The lunar surface is represented by the flour, and darker cocoa on the surface. The white flour and dark cocoa help to distinguish between material at the surface, and displaced material below the surface. The impactor is represented by a glass sphere. At impact a great deal of material is displaced forming interior "crater walls". After impact, an uplifted "crater rim" is seen surrounding the edge of the crater (particularly in the right hand movie). The displaced material from below the surface spreads outward from the impact site. On the moon, we see prominent crater walls, rims and "ejecta", the sub-surface material ejected 1000's of kilometers from the site. Ejected material form "rays" which are bright streaks extending away from the crater.
The limitations of this model:
What isn't seen in the movie are the "central peaks" with are mountains formed in the center of the crater floor, from rapid pressure change during an impact. Central peaks typically form in craters that are larger than 50 km in diameter. The movies don't show the central peaks because you are using an impactor that doesn't disintegrate at impact. To see the central peak in a crater, the water drop movie is wonderful. (A beautiful red drop of water in slow motion)"
... more slowmotion videos www.UltraSlo.com
