To determine which statement is accurate, we can analyze the situation based on physics principles:
When both rocks are dropped from the same height, they will both accelerate due to gravity and reach the same speed just before they hit the water. However, the kinetic energy of an object is given by the equation:
\[ KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 \]
where \( m \) is the mass and \( v \) is the velocity.
Since both rocks are dropped from the same height, they will hit the water with the same velocity. However, the kinetic energy will differ because it depends on their mass. The 500-gram rock has more mass than the 350-gram rock, so it will have greater kinetic energy when it hits the water.
Kinetic energy is related to the size of the splash: more kinetic energy typically correlates with a larger splash due to greater displacement of water.
Thus, the accurate statement is:
"The 500-gram rock causes a larger splash because it has more kinetic energy."