The effects of high-speed micrometeoroid impacts are simulated with a potato and a straw.
Students hold the potato in one hand and stab it with the other using a plastic milkshake straw.
The penetration depth into the potato relates to the speed of the stabbing action. A straw pushed slowly into the potato collapses. The plastic isn t strong enough to support the force exerted at opposite ends of the straw. However, when the straw is thrust rapidly into the potato, the straw easily penetrates and passes through. The straw enters the potato before it has a chance to collapse.