To analyze the situation, we need to consider the kinetic energy of the rocks when they hit the water. The kinetic energy (KE) of an object is given by the formula:
\[ KE = \frac{1}{2} m v^2 \]
where \(m\) is the mass and \(v\) is the velocity of the object.
When both rocks are dropped from the same height (8 meters), they will have the same potential energy at that height, which is converted into kinetic energy just before they hit the water. The mass of the rocks differs, but the height from which they are dropped will determine their velocity when they reach the surface of the water due to gravitational acceleration.
When they hit the water, the heavier rock (500 grams) will have more kinetic energy simply because it has more mass, assuming they both reach the same velocity just before impact. Since kinetic energy also contributes to the size of the splash, the rock with greater kinetic energy will likely cause a larger splash.
Therefore, the accurate statement is:
The 500-gram rock causes a larger splash because it has more kinetic energy.
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