Crater Size from 55kg Metal Cylinder Impact

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    Cylinder Impact Metal
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around estimating the size of a crater formed by a 55kg metal cylinder impacting the Earth at a speed of 2.5 km/sec. Participants explore various methods and resources for calculating crater size, considering average ground characteristics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that the crater size could be around 10 meters and references a link for further calculations.
  • Another participant proposes approximating the crater size by equating the kinetic energy of the cylinder with the potential energy required to raise the crater material by a certain height.
  • Several participants share a common resource for calculating crater size, indicating its usefulness in the discussion.
  • There are expressions of appreciation for the suggestions and resources provided by other participants.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the exact size of the crater, and multiple approaches to estimating crater size are presented without resolution.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions regarding ground characteristics and the method of energy equivalence are not explicitly stated, leaving room for uncertainty in the calculations.

rocky63
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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?
 
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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.
 

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