Penetration of Granular Projectiles into a Water Target

The penetration of low-speed projectiles into a water target has been studied in the last several years to understand the physics behind the formation and collapse of cavities. In such studies, the projectiles employed were solid bodies or liquid drops. Here we report similar impact experiments using granular projectiles, with the aim to investigate how the morphology of the cavities is determined by the balance between the dynamic pressure exerted by the fluid and the cohesive strength of the impactors. From the results we present and discuss in this manuscript, we speculate on the dynamics of meteorite disintegration in the atmosphere of our planet.