This book focuses on the impact dynamics and cratering of soft matter to describe its importance, difficulty, and wide applicability to planetary-related problems. A comprehensive introduction to the dimensional analysis and constitutive laws that are necessary to discuss impact mechanics and cratering is first provided. Then, particular coverage is given to the impact of granular matter, which is one of the most crucial constituents for geophysics. While granular matter shows both solid-like and fluid-like behaviors, neither solid nor fluid dynamics is sufficient to fully understand the physics of granular matter. In order to reveal its fundamental properties, extensive impact tests have been carried out recently. The author reveals the findings of these recent studies as well as what remains unsolved in terms of impact dynamics. Impact crater morphology with various soft matter impacts also is discussed intensively. Various experimental and observational results up to the recent Itokawa asteroid’s terrain and nanocrater are reviewed and explained mainly by dimensional analysis. The author discusses perspectives of the relation between soft matter physics and planetary science, because it is an important step towards unifying physics and planetary science, in both of which fields crater morphology has been studied independently.

Despite their global importance, little is known about the few existing examples of impacts into marine environments and icy targets. They are among the least understood and studied parts of impact crater geology. The icy impacts are also of great importance in understanding the developments of the outer planets and their satellites such as Mars or Europa. Furthermore, the impact mechanisms, crater formation and collapse, melt production and the ejecta distribution are scarcely known for impact on targets other than the "classical" solid silicates of the continental crust. The reaction of water and ice to impacts clearly deserves a more thorough study. The understanding of impact effects and consequences in the case of aqueous hits, soft sediments and icy targets has not been thoroughly explored and comprises the main focus of this book. A number of papers in the field of hypervelocity impacts on ice are included. These cover a review of available literature in the field of laboratory studies of such impacts, large impact structures on Titan, predicting impact cratering on a comet nucleus, and a novel report on the survival of bacteria fired at hypervelocity into icy surfaces. This latter paper is concerned with astrobiology and in particular Panspermia (natural migration of life through space).

This two-volume, 1100 pages, 38 chapters book is a significantly expanded, revised and updated version of the monograph by the authors published in 2013 (Ben-Dor, G, Dubinsky, A, Elperin, T, 'High Speed Penetration Dynamics: Engineering Models and Methods,' Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Company). The contents increased by 60%, the number of titles in bibliography doubled and reached 1600; and the scope covers a range of new topics related to hypervelocity penetration, along with high-speed impact.Presented material is structured into two parts. The first part includes description and analysis of practically all known engineering models for calculating high-speed penetration of projectiles into concrete, metals, geological shields, adobe, and gelatine.The second part focuses on the use of approximate models for solving conventional and non-standard problems of penetration mechanics including prediction and optimization of protective properties of monolithic and multi-layered shields against high-speed projectiles and space debris; shape optimization of high-speed projectiles penetrating into various media; modelling of penetration and optimal control of penetrators equipped with jet thrusters; and investigation of the efficiency and optimization of segmented projectiles. The book includes comprehensive overviews on basic classes of problems in high-speed penetration mechanics.This is a indispensable reference guide for scientists, engineers, and students specializing in the field of high-speed and hypervelocity penetration mechanics.

The book is devoted to the mechanics of the collision of two macroscopic bodies. First, the fundamentals of contact mechanics (elasticity, adhesion, etc.) are presented and then applied to the collision problem. With the method of dimensionality reduction, a tool has been available for a few years which allows the very efficient analytical and numerical treatment of contact-impact problems. The book concludes with application cases from various fields. Das Buch widmet sich der Mechanik der Kollision zweier makroskopischer Körper. Zunächst werden die kontaktmechanischen Grundlagen (Elastizität, Adhäsion u. a.) dargestellt und anschließend auf das Stoßproblem übertragen. Mit der Methode der Dimensionsreduktion steht seit wenigen Jahren ein Werkzeug zur Verfügung, das die sehr effiziente analytische und numerische Behandlung von Stoß-Kontakt-Problemen ermöglicht. Den Abschluss des Buchs bilden Anwendungsfälle aus verschiedenen Gebieten.

Dynamic Mars: Recent and Current Landscape Evolution of the Red Planet presents the latest observations, interpretations, and explanations of geological change at the surface or near-surface of this terrestrial body. These changes raise questions about a decades-old paradigm, formed largely in the aftermath of very coarse Mariner-mission imagery in the 1960s, suggesting that much of the interesting geological activity on Mars occurred deep in its past, eons ago. The book includes discussions of (1) Mars' ever-changing atmosphere and the impact of this on the planet's surface and near-surface; (2) the possible involvement of water in relatively new, if not contemporary, gully-like flows and slope streaks (i.e. recurring slope lineae); and (3) the identification of a broad suite of agents and processes (i.e. glacial, periglacial, aeolian, meteorological, volcanic, and meteoric) that are actively revising surface and near-surface landscapes, landforms, and features on a local, regional, and hemispheric scale.Highly illustrated and punctuated by data from the most recent Mars missions, Dynamic Mars is a valuable resource for all levels of research in the geological history of Mars, as well as of the three other terrestrial planets. - Utilizes observational and model-based data as well as geological context to frame the understanding of the dynamic surface and near-surface of Mars - Presents a broad spectrum of highly regarded experts and themes to discuss and evaluate the geological history of late and current Mars - Includes extensive and detailed imagery to clearly illustrate these themes, discussions, and evaluations

This book presents a historical perspective on plate tectonics. In doing so it discusses the foundations of rigid plate tectonics and the limitations of this approach. This classic approach explains the data at a level of 95 % precision. The authors explain data anomalies as a result of the discrepancies between spatial geodetical data and rigid kinematics in oceans. Data and its interpretation from various disciplines are pulled together in this book.

A Dictonary of Science and Technology. Color Illustration Section. Symbols and Units. Fundamental Physical Constants. Measurement Conversion. Periodic Table of the Elements. Atomic Weights. Particles. The Solar System. Geologial Timetable. Five-Kingdom Classification of Organisms. Chronology of Modern Science. Photo Credits.