How are craters made? Science Activity

Have you ever looked up at the moon and wondered about its pockmarked landscape? Craters are fascinating geological features that give a small insight into the history of our solar system.

This is a great ( and very easy ) activity for discovering how craters are made. Did you know the moon’s surface has millions of craters, varying from just a few metres across to hundreds of kilometres?

What is a crater?

A crater is a bowl-shaped depression formed by the impact of a meteorite, volcanic activity, or an explosion. Craters are found throughout our solar system and beyond.

Examples of craters in our solar system

The Moon has a heavily cratered surface.

Mercury’s surface is heavily cratered. The lack of atmosphere means impacts are frequent, as asteroids don’t burn up as they travel towards the surface.

Many asteroids and moons in the solar system also have craters.

Many craters still exist on Earth, including Meteor Crater in Arizona, Chicxulub crater in Mexico, and the Chesapeake Bay crater. Many craters on Earth have been eroded over time and are no longer visible.

Making Craters Activity

This activity shows children how dropping marbles from a greater height creates a bigger impact crater.

You’ll need

A shallow metal pan

Plain white flour

Cocoa powder

Ruler

Marbles and different sized balls.

Making Craters with Marbles

Fill the tray about 2 cm deep with flour, and lightly sprinkle the cocoa powder over the top to cover the entire surface.

Drop the marbles into the tray. The marbles represent crashing asteroids and comets.

Create craters using different size balls and marbles.

Measure and record the size of the crater for each ball.

You should find that if you drop marbles of the same size from different heights, the one with the furthest to fall will make the largest crater as it is moving faster, so it has more energy when it hits the surface, creating a deeper depression.

Why do craters form?

The surface of the moon is marked by millions of craters, varying from just a few metres long to hundreds of kilometres long. Most formed a long time ago when comets, asteroids and meteorites crashed into the moon’s surface.

Craters on Earth

Barringer Crater ( also known as Meteor Crater ) in Arizona was created instantly when a 50-meter (164-foot), 150,000-ton meteorite slammed into the desert around 50,000 years ago.

The Chicxulub Crater, off the Gulf of Mexico, is thought to be the impact site of the meteor, which wiped out or contributed greatly to the extinction of the dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous period 65 million years ago.

Mount Erebus in Antarctica has a lava lake in its summit crater.

Read more about the biggest craters on Earth on Live Science.

What is the oldest crater on Earth?

The oldest ( and largest ) impact crater on Earth is the Vredefort crater in South Africa. It is estimated to have originally been 185 miles (300 kilometres) across. A huge meteorite or asteroid created this giant crater 2.02 billion years ago!

Creating Craters Instructions

More Space Science Experiments for Kids

If you enjoyed this activity, you’ll love my other space science experiments, including rocket mice, space sensory trays, water bottle rockets and straw rockets! Most of them only need items you probably already have in the house. What are you waiting for?

If your children love space, my book This IS Rocket Science has lots of brilliant space-themed experiments and activities! I’d love for you to take a look.

Last Updated on February 28, 2025 by Emma Vanstone