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    Home » Early Years Science » Making Craters – How Are Craters Formed?

    Making Craters – How Are Craters Formed?

    June 7, 2019 By Emma Vanstone 5 Comments

    This is a great ( and very easy ) activity for learning about how craters form. Did you know the surface of the moon 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.

    Crater experiment with marbles and flour - space experiments for kids

    What you need for a crater experiment

    A shallow metal pan

    Plain white flour

    Drinking chocolate

    Marbles and different sized balls.

    Making Craters with Marbles

    • Fill the pan about 2 cm deep with flour, lightly sprinkle the drinking chocolate to cover the entire surface.
    • To make a model of the surface of the moon, drop the marbles into the pan, the marbles act as the crashing asteroids and comets.
    • Notice how the marbles make craters in the pan. The soil below the surface ( white flour ) is brought to the surface.
    • Try with different sizes and weights of balls and see if the craters are deeper or different shapes.
    How do craters form? - easy space science for kids

    You should find that if you drop the same size marbles from different heights the one that has furthest to fall will make the largest crater as it is moving faster, it has more energy.

    Why do craters form?

    The surface of the moon is marked by millions of craters, some are just a few metres long and some hundreds of kilometres. 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.

    Barringer Crater also known as Meteor Crater in Arizona

    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 kilometers) across. A huge meteorite or asteroid created this giant crater 2.02 billion years ago!

    Download the Instructions

    More Space Science Experiments for Kids

    I’ve got lots more fun space science experiments including rocket mice, space sensory trays, water bottle rockets and straw rockets for you to try too! Most of them use items you probably already have in the house. What are you waiting for?

    Easy crater experiment for kids. find out how craters form using flour, hot chocolate powder and marbles #craters #spacescience #gravityexperiments

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

    Last Updated on September 13, 2022 by Emma Vanstone

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    Safety Notice

    Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

    These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Susan Mann

      October 05, 2012 at 7:12 pm

      This looks fab x

      Reply
    2. Cerys @ Rainy Day Mum

      October 06, 2012 at 9:33 pm

      I love it – the way that the flour comes to the surface really explains how there is difference in the colours of the moon surface. Got to try this out

      Reply
      • Ukpai Joy Chiwendu

        February 03, 2022 at 7:17 am

        Wow! This is lovely
        I can’t wait to try it out with my pupils.

        Reply
    3. Mrs Haworth

      January 26, 2015 at 10:00 pm

      Brilliant I am going to try it with my Hedgehogs

      Reply
      • Emma Vanstone

        January 28, 2015 at 10:33 am

        I am very much looking forward to trying this with them tomorrow 🙂 Thank you for your lovely comments. x

        Reply

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