Crater Size from 55kg Metal Cylinder Impact

AI Thread Summary
A 55kg metal cylinder traveling at 2.5 km/sec is expected to create a crater approximately 10 meters in diameter upon impacting the Earth. Participants in the discussion recommend using an online calculator to input various parameters for more accurate estimates. There is interest in approximating crater size by equating the kinetic energy of the object with the potential energy required to raise the crater material. The shared link to the crater calculator has been helpful to several users seeking to understand the impact dynamics better. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the importance of using scientific tools and calculations to estimate crater sizes accurately.
rocky63
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
A metal cylinder of 55kg, (0.2m in diameter), traveling at 2.5 km/sec strikes the earth. How big a crater can it be expected to make, given average characteristics for the ground where struck?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
hoave you tried this
its a bit of a spoiler to a good question, or bit of fun, but then again its ever usefull http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/tekton/crater_c.html"
 
Last edited by a moderator:
It's going to be around 10 metres, but try this link. You input various parameters and it calculates crater size. Maybe some of the experts here will be able to say if it's reasonable or not.

http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/tekton/crater_c.html
 
Last edited by a moderator:
OT comments removed...try to be a little more forgiving, star.torturer. You're kinda new yourself...
 
I wonder if you could do a quick approximation by just equating the KE of the incoming object with the PE of raising the crater material by some nominal amount. Say, 1km? I wonder how close that comes to the numbers in the article in the above link (sorry, I didn't follow the link).
 
Thank you. Your suggestion was just what I needed. I appreciate it.

Rocky 63
 
Thank you. You're the second person that sent me to this site. Great help and much appreciated.

Thanks Russ Watters and Berkeman for your replies as well.
 
Back
Top