You will need:
- Large sheet of white
paper - Magnifying glass
- Magnet
- Large open field with no
trees or cover - Weight
Undertake this project to find your very own micro meteorite from space.
INSTRUCTIONS
- This project requires a bit of patience. While micro meteorites fall from the sky every day, it is not easy to find them.
- Take your large sheet of white paper and place it in the centre of an open field. Make sure that no trees cover the area.
- Leave the paper undisturbed for at least 8 hours. But do keep an eye on it to see that it has not flown away. You could use some weight on its corner to keep it in place.
- After 7-8 hours, gently pick up your paper from the sides so that
the particles accumulated on it may settle in the centre. - Next, place your magnet on the underside of the paper
under the pile of dirt collected. - Move it around so that you may identify any
magnetic particles you
might have collected. - Once you find the
magnetic particles,
gently tip the paper
so that the remaining
dirt may slide off.
RESULT
Meteorites originate in outer space and are pieces of rock or iron broken away from asteroids or comets. While larger pieces also fall every day, most of them fall on water surfaces or dense vegetation. Small micro particles also fall from space every day, but are much harder to find. Use a magnifying glass to identify your micro meteorite. It will be dark with a pitted uneven surface. If you didn’t find one on your first day, do not be disheartened; try again.
