When dealing with large meteors, one of the best ways to evalutate the origin is by
studying the impact crater it creates.
In this section we will study two different forms of craters. The
first is a "simple" crater as shown in Figure 1 below. A
simple crater has a small depth to diameter ratio with a smooth bowl
shape.
Figure 1: The Barringer Crater, an excellent example of a simple
impact crater.
The second type of impact crater we will examine is called a "complex"
crater. A complex crater has a few differences. First, the depth to diameter
ratio is much greater, typically around 1:15 compared to the simple crater
which is about a 1:6 ratio. The second major difference is that an uplift is
formed in the center of the crater when the earth rebounds from impact.
Shown below in Figure 2 is a graphic comparing both the simple
and complex structures.
