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?

(4 points)
Responses

Naveed's object had greater kinetic energy
Naveed's object had greater kinetic energy

Naveed's object had less mass
Naveed's object had less mass

Maddie's object had a faster drop speed
Maddie's object had a faster drop speed

Maddie's object had a smaller width
Maddie's object had a smaller width

Answer 1

Naveed's object had greater kinetic energy.

Reason: Both were dropped from the same height so their impact speeds are essentially the same. Kinetic energy (KE = 1/2 m v^2) is then larger for the object with greater mass, which would make a deeper hole as observed.