The accurate statement about the investigation is: "The 500-gram rock causes a larger splash because it has more kinetic energy."
When the rocks are dropped from the same height, both will accelerate due to gravity and reach the water with the same velocity. However, the kinetic energy (KE) of an object is given by the formula \( KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2 \), where \( m \) is mass and \( v \) is velocity. Since the 500-gram rock has greater mass, it will have more kinetic energy upon impact with the water, which can lead to a larger splash.