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.

Question

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 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.

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.
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 a decrease in kinetic energy.
An increase in mass causes a decrease in kinetic energy.

An increase in mass causes an increase in kinetic energy.
An increase in mass causes an increase 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.

Overall, kinetic energy is lost.
Overall, kinetic energy is lost.

All of the kinetic energy is kept by the ball.
All of the kinetic energy is kept by the ball.

Some of the energy is transferred to the water.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

Here are the answers to your questions based on the principles of physics:

Question 1: a. 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 is primarily dependent on the volume of water displaced upon impact rather than the mass of the objects, provided that they have the same volume and are dropped from the same height.

Question 2: b. 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 with the formula \( KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 \), where \(m\) is mass and \(v\) is velocity. Since both balls are dropped from the same height, they will have the same velocity just before hitting the water, meaning the kinetic energy is directly proportional to the mass of the falling object.

Question 3: c. 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, its kinetic energy is not entirely transferred to the ball but is partially dissipated as sound, heat, and is transferred to the water, causing the water to ripple and create splashes. The ball slows down, losing kinetic energy in the process.