Question

Use the table of information from an investigation to answer the question. Student Depth of Object in Sand (cm) Maddie 1.8 Naveed 4.0 Two students drop an object into sand from a height of 1.5 meters. They record the depth of the hole made in the sand by each student’s object. What is the most likely explanation for the results? (1 point) Responses Maddie’s object has a smaller width. Maddie’s object has a smaller width. Naveed’s object has less mass. Naveed’s object has less mass. Naveed’s object had greater kinetic energy. Naveed’s object had greater kinetic energy. Maddie’s object had a faster drop speed.

Answer 1

The most likely explanation for the results is: Naveed’s object had greater kinetic energy.

The depth of the hole made in the sand typically correlates with the energy transferred to the sand upon impact. Since Naveed's object created a deeper hole, this suggests that it had more energy upon impact, which can be influenced by factors such as mass and speed. Given that both objects were dropped from the same height, Naveed's object likely has greater mass or speed, contributing to greater kinetic energy and resulting in a deeper hole.