Investigating Impact Craters In class, you learned how the speed and mass of an object influence its kinetic energy. When you threw down a tin can, you gave it greater speed than when you just dropped it. Throwing the can compacted the modeling clay more than dropping it did. A heavy tin can compacted the modeling clay more than a light can. If you drop any hard object on snow or on sand, you can create small impact craters similar to those created on the moon. You can create impact craters at home:

Fill a pan with sand to a depth of about 2.5 cm. Smooth the surface. Then tap the pan lightly a couple of times so the sand settles evenly.
Take the pan outside, or set it on newspaper or a large towel.
Choose two marbles or small rocks. One should be heavier than the other.
Plan an experiment to investigate how the mass or speed of the marble influences the crater’s size.
Answer the following questions. Then, report the procedure and results of your experiment.

What is the purpose of your investigation?