Morphology and Scaling of Impact Craters in Granular Media

Authors:
  • KHKristi E. Holloway
    Kristi E. Holloway
  • PHPiotr Habdas
    Piotr Habdas
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Abstract
We present the results of experiments on impact craters formed by dropping a steel ball vertically into a container of small glass beads. As the energy of impact increases, we observe a progression of crater morphologies analogous to that seen in craters on the moon. We find that both the diameter and the depth of the craters are proportional to the 1/4 power of the energy. The ratio of crater diameter to rim-to-floor depth is constant for low-energy impacts, but increases at higher energy, similar to what is observed for lunar craters.

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