How Does the Angle of Impact Affect the Depth of Meteorite Craters?

[McHeathen]

The angle of impact along with the mass and speed/acceletation have been claimed to be factors responsible for the depth of a crator. How importat a factor is the angle of impact? are the mass and speed/acceleration more important factors?

How much influence will the Earth's rotation have on the angle of impact?

 

[Integral]

The major factors in crater depth would be the speed and mass of the object. The impact angle would affect the shape of the crater and things like distribution of debris.

The Earth's rotation could not have any effect on the angle of impact. That is determined by the approaching object.

 

[Fewmet]

The Earth's rotation could not have any effect on the angle of impact. That is determined by the approaching object.

If the Earth were not rotating and the meteor moved toward the center of the Earth, the angle of impact is 90 degrees to the surface (or, rather, to the tangent to the surface at that point). But if the Earth were rotating, wouldn't that be equivalent to the meteor landing with a velocity equal to the vector sum of the vertical speed and the Earth's tangential velocity? That wouldn't be directed at 90 degrees to the surface, would it?

 

[harcel]

Fewmet is right. Because the Earth is fairly small and rotates fairly slowly, though, the relative velocity of a rock in space and Earth (roughly of order of the orbital velocity of earth) is much bigger than the rotation velocity of Earth on the equator (where it is biggest). So although in theory you should add the two, in practice you dont; have to.

 

[Fewmet]

Fewmet is right. Because the Earth is fairly small and rotates fairly slowly, though, the relative velocity of a rock in space and Earth (roughly of order of the orbital velocity of earth) is much bigger than the rotation velocity of Earth on the equator (where it is biggest). So although in theory you should add the two, in practice you dont; have to.

Good point: I was thinking of the meteor's speed being from falling, and overlooked the obviously large orbital velocity of the Earth. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[davenn]

Good point: I was thinking of the meteor's speed being from falling, and overlooked the obviously large orbital velocity of the Earth. Thanks for the clarification.

the speed of the incoming meteor is quite considerable 20 to 40 km / Sec or so, considerably faster than the rotational speed of the earth

Dave