To understand which statement is accurate, we need to consider the physics of falling objects and how they interact with the water upon impact.
Both rocks, regardless of their mass, will fall from the same height and will reach the water's surface with similar velocities, assuming negligible air resistance. When an object falls, its kinetic energy just before impact depends on its mass and the height from which it falls. The kinetic energy (KE) can be calculated using the formula:
\[ KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2 \]
where:
- \( m \) is the mass of the object,
- \( v \) is the velocity just before impact.
As both rocks fall from the same height, the velocity will be the same just before hitting the water. However, because the kinetic energy is also dependent on mass, the 500-gram rock has more kinetic energy than the 350-gram rock due to its larger mass.
When the rocks hit the water, the one with more kinetic energy (the 500-gram rock) will typically cause a larger splash, since it will transfer more energy to the water upon impact.
Given the statements:
- The 500-gram rock causes a larger splash because it has more kinetic energy. - This statement is accurate.
- The 350-gram rock causes a smaller splash because it has more kinetic energy. - This statement is inaccurate; the 350-gram rock has less kinetic energy.
- The 500-gram rock causes a smaller splash because it has more mass. - This statement is inaccurate; more mass generally results in a larger splash.
- The 350-gram rock causes a larger splash because it has less mass. - This statement is inaccurate; less mass leads to less kinetic energy and thus a smaller splash.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
The 500-gram rock causes a larger splash because it has more kinetic energy.
5 answers