Morphology and scaling of impact craters in granular media.
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.
Walsh
Amanda M
AM
Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada A1B 3X7.
Holloway
Kristi E
KE
Habdas
Piotr
P
de Bruyn
John R
JR