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 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 balls would make splashes of the same size. The balls would make splashes of the same size. 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 An increase in mass causes a decrease in kinetic energy. An increase in mass causes a decrease in kinetic energy. Mass does not impact kinetic energy. Mass does not impact kinetic energy. An increase in mass causes an increase in kinetic energy. An increase in mass causes an increase in kinetic energy. A decrease in mass causes an increase in kinetic energy. A decrease 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 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. Some of the energy is transferred to the water. Some of the energy is transferred to the water. Overall, kinetic energy is gained.

Answer 1

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 size of the splash is independent of the mass of the ball.
  • Explanation: Both balls are dropped from the same height and will hit the water with the same velocity just before impact, regardless of their mass (ignoring air resistance). As such, the impact force, and therefore the splash size, would primarily depend on their volume and the way they displace water, not their mass.

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 is determined by the formula KE = 1/2 mv², where m is mass and v is velocity. Since the balls are dropped from the same height, they will have the same velocity just before impact. Thus, a larger mass will result in a higher kinetic energy.

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

• Response: Overall, kinetic energy is lost.
  • Explanation: When the ball hits the water, some of its kinetic energy is transformed into other forms of energy, such as sound energy (the splash) and thermal energy (heating the water slightly). While some energy is used to displace the water and create a splash, it's not entirely retained by the ball or converted into kinetic energy again after impact. Thus, overall kinetic energy is dissipated.

These answers reflect fundamental physics concepts regarding mass, kinetic energy, and energy transfer during impacts.