This a simple classroom or science at home project that has a good edutainment value even at primary school level.
The Science Part
Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are called terrestrial planets as these have 'land' to stand-on. We may also add moon to the list. Lunar and Mervury surfaces are highly cratered. These craters were formed about 4 billion years ago when the solar system was just born (about 0.3 byr ago) and taking it's present shape. At that time there were large number of small bodies flying in the solar system and naturally colliding with the other planets.
The gaseous planets like Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune simply swallowed these debris. But on terrestrial planets these missiles left their mark in the form of a craters.
On planets like the Earth, Venus and Mars most of these makes were eroded by changing weather on these planets. Whereas Mercury and Moon, which have little atmosphere, have retained their poke marks.
Thus - if one goes exploring planets of other suns and come across a planet which has highly cratered surface then it is quite likely that the planet has little or no atmosphere.
Study of these features on the planets has helped astronomer to get insight into how the surfaces of these planets have evolved over a period of time.
The Fun Part
---->>>> begins from the next step
The Science Part
Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are called terrestrial planets as these have 'land' to stand-on. We may also add moon to the list. Lunar and Mervury surfaces are highly cratered. These craters were formed about 4 billion years ago when the solar system was just born (about 0.3 byr ago) and taking it's present shape. At that time there were large number of small bodies flying in the solar system and naturally colliding with the other planets.
The gaseous planets like Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune simply swallowed these debris. But on terrestrial planets these missiles left their mark in the form of a craters.
On planets like the Earth, Venus and Mars most of these makes were eroded by changing weather on these planets. Whereas Mercury and Moon, which have little atmosphere, have retained their poke marks.
Thus - if one goes exploring planets of other suns and come across a planet which has highly cratered surface then it is quite likely that the planet has little or no atmosphere.
Study of these features on the planets has helped astronomer to get insight into how the surfaces of these planets have evolved over a period of time.
The Fun Part
---->>>> begins from the next step
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Signing UpStep 1: DIY surface of a planet without an atmosphere
For this project we required
A) Quick setting Plaster of Paris ( POP ) available in the hardware shops. Cost of 5 k.g. POP (about 1 USD).
( POP is a white powder that, when mixed with water to form a paste, will turn hard in a few minutes. POP is made by heating gypsum, a mineral composed of calcium sulfate and water. )
B) A cardboard box tray of 20 x 20 x 5 cm. Normally 8 inch pizza comes in a box of this size. We need only one side of the box
C) 250ml cup - a Styrofoam cup will do.
D) A white sheet of paper (standard wall calendar will do).
E) A vessel to mix POP.
F) A pair of rubber gloves (for every player)
Also a few sheet of newspapers, scotch or paper tape to stick the sides of the pizza box if needed.
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One difference is that your craters have less of a flat bottom than a lot of the larger moon craters. Any idea why?
See, if a meteor crashes into our moon, a lot of debris is thrown not only outwards, but also upwards (as you can see it if you dump a heavy stone into water). As gravity pulls it down, it gets spread a little bit... And there is the key: The height compared to the gravitational force is different if you do it bigscale on the moon and smallscale on the earth.
Also on the moon the craters filled up by the millenias of small but constant solar winds... From time to time particles get pulled off the surface and travel a few feet before they fall into a depression and get trapped for another millenia. The bigger the depression the more trapping-effect it has. And a sizeable crater is quite a depression. :)
Well to the best of my knowledge the age of the earth itself is about 4.6 billion years or so (which is also the age of the solar system) and the moon formed due to an impact of a mars size body with the earth about 50 million years later. I think the 5 byr is stretching the age too far back in time.
It would be interesting to see what it looks like.
As a film maker it's quite tempting to see how realistic one can re-create the Apollo 11 landing.
Obviously the conspirisists will go crazy if I'm successful.
You have me thinking of all kinds of things to do with plaster in pizza boxes now, and I REALLY should be doing something much more productive!
Wonder if you could model tectonic movement by casting a thin slab, breaking it, moving it a little and then casting more over the top...
What about sprinkling the surface with dry dust and larger particles...
How about layering different materials like WAX...
(Yes I KNOW wax is immiscible in water, but you don't WANT it to MIX exactly, just make a layer of different texture and flexibility.)
Dammit! On with the rest of my day, but than you for sharing.
many were talking about filming dust particles due to a new Tutorial on the VCP blog -
Though many make terrains in a 3D app it is nice to know an alternative.
I was thinking too with something you mentioned about it cracking.
It would be kinda cool to allow to crack while filming it drying via stop motion photography. (Taking a shot every 10 seconds etc etc)
or even waiting till it's almost dry - still moist and purposly cracking it.
And another thought maybe you can help with - is there a product that you could make this same effect with that you know of that would be softer.
Another words - it would crumble once dried as opposed to being so hard it "breaks" when it cracks...?
I take it this material used in your instrucable is more like white chalk or plaster of paris... so i'm wondering if there is a softer material one could use that you can think of? That would more crumble... hmmm kinda like a coarser dry mud is what i'm thinking...
any thoughts on that?
and thanx for posting this.
Happy for you it made the Instructables news letter.
-chase-
I am a science educator - astronomy in particular - I use this sort of things get my audience interested.
That is a good effect.
Might make good bathroom tiles....
L
Please read my comment at http://www.instructables.com/id/Discovery-of-an-Amazing-Object-in-the-Sky/