Asteroid Strike! Research the answers to these questions: What caused the extinction of the dinosaurs? What is the evidence for this theory? What were the effects of this event? Could it happen again? What could we do about it? You must have relevant information from at least 3 sources listed in a numbered bibliography. (Harvard) Homework: Add information from at least one more source and make sure you fully credit the source.

Asteroid Strike! How does the size or speed of an asteroid affect the amount of damage it will cause? What could be the independent variable? What could be the dependent variable? What would we need to control to have a fair and valid test?

Hypothesis and Planning Hypothesis. Write a prediction (what you think will happen) based on scientific ideas and/or your research. Plan what to do. Include measurements, range and repetition of tests, equipment, and a step by step guide to how to get your results. Risk assess this practical (danger, damage, avoid). Modify your plan as you find bits that don’t work or you missed out.

Processing data Construct a table of results with labels on each column including the units, and with the same precision in each column. Write down how closely you think you could measure each variable. This is the uncertainty. What percentage of the results you got does this represent? Calculate the mean for each set of drops. Calculate the area or volume of crater formed or the speed of the “asteroid”. Plot a graph or graphs checking; the axes are the right way round, the points fill 2/3 rd of the page, there is a line of best fit through the points, and the axes are fully labelled.

Patterns and trends Write down the patterns /connections/trends shown by your data, graphs or calculations. This should give a basic answer to how the size or speed affects the damage. Do the patterns you see in your data link to or agree with any information you gathered during your research about asteroid impacts with the Earth over time?

Evaluating your data Did your method produce accurate results? Were your results reliable (the same crater size for each drop size repeat)? Were there any random errors (crater sizes that don’t fit the pattern)? What may have caused them (why too big or too small)? How precise were your measurements (+/- ?mm of crater size)? Was the uncertainty in your results acceptable? What had the biggest effect on the accuracy of your results? How fair was your testing? Do you get the same pattern in the results in each set of primary data (your sets of results for crater size) and in the secondary data (from research or other groups’ sets)? Are your conclusions valid? How did or could you have improved your experiment? Why would this get more precise or reliable measurements?

Analysing your results How well do your results agree with your original hypothesis. Say how your results show your hypothesis to be either correct or in need of modification. Explain how your patterns are linked to the research you did about the death of the dinosaurs and any scientific reasons for the trends you saw.