Abstract
Experiments were performed with impacts of 2.54- and 4.45-cm-diameter aluminum spheres at 2.1 km/s into both consolidated rock (granite) and highly porous rock (pumice). Measured in these experiments was the momentum enhancement – that is, how much momentum is transferred to the rock by the impactor. The transferred momentum is greater than the impactor due to the crater ejecta. High speed video recorded the impact event, the ejecta from the target, and the motion of the target (either rocking on a pedestal or hung in a ballistic pendulum arrangement). For impact into consolidated rock, early time fine debris ejecta with a cone half angle of 45° was seen and late time larger debris ejecta returned in almost the same direction as the impact. For pumice impacts, three stages of ejecta were seen, with early time fine ejecta debris going in all directions, a middle stage of fine debris focus back along the shot line, and late time larger debris in various directions. An application of this data is determining the effectiveness of deflecting asteroids and comet nuclei by hypervelocity impacts.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
