A student is testing how mass impacts kinetic energy. The student has two balls that have the same diameter but different masses. In other words, the balls are the same size, but one of them has more mass than the other. After getting permission from the lifeguard, the student climbs to the top of the high-dive platform above the local swimming pool, taking the two balls with her. She holds the balls over the edge and drops them at the same time from the same height. a. How would the splashes of the two balls compare? (1 point) Responses The ball with the lower mass would make a bigger splash. The ball with the lower mass would make a bigger splash. The ball with the higher mass would make a bigger splash. The ball with the higher mass would make a bigger splash. The balls would make splashes of the same size. The balls would make splashes of the same size. The size of the splash is independent of the mass of the ball. The size of the splash is independent of the mass of the ball. Question 2 b. How does the mass of a falling object impact the object's kinetic energy?(1 point) Responses Mass does not impact kinetic energy. Mass does not impact kinetic energy. A decrease in mass causes an increase in kinetic energy. A decrease in mass causes an increase in kinetic energy. An increase in mass causes an increase in kinetic energy. An increase in mass causes an increase in kinetic energy. An increase in mass causes a decrease in kinetic energy. An increase in mass causes a decrease in kinetic energy. Question 3 c. What happens to the kinetic energy of a ball when it hits the water?(1 point) Responses Overall, kinetic energy is gained. Overall, kinetic energy is gained. Some of the energy is transferred to the water. Some of the energy is transferred to the water. All of the kinetic energy is kept by the ball. All of the kinetic energy is kept by the ball. Overall, kinetic energy is lost. Overall, kinetic energy is lost. Skip to navigation

1 answer

Let's analyze each question based on the principles of physics.

Question 1: How would the splashes of the two balls compare?

  • Response: The balls would make splashes of the same size.

Explanation: The size of the splash depends primarily on the speed at which the balls hit the water and the volume of water displaced. When dropped from the same height, both balls will reach the water with the same velocity regardless of their mass (ignoring air resistance), and will create splashes of similar size.


Question 2: How does the mass of a falling object impact the object's kinetic energy?

  • Response: An increase in mass causes an increase in kinetic energy.

Explanation: Kinetic energy (KE) is calculated using the formula \( KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 \), where \( m \) is mass and \( v \) is velocity. When dropping the balls from the same height, they will have the same velocity when they hit the water, but the ball with higher mass (m) will have higher kinetic energy because the kinetic energy is directly proportional to the mass.


Question 3: What happens to the kinetic energy of a ball when it hits the water?

  • Response: Some of the energy is transferred to the water.

Explanation: When the ball hits the water, some of its kinetic energy is converted into other forms of energy, such as sound (from the splash) and thermal energy due to the water's movement. The ball does not retain all the kinetic energy after the collision with the water, so this energy is partially transferred to the water.


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