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

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.
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 gained.
Overall, kinetic energy is gained.

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.
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Answer 1

Here are the correct answers to each question based on the principles of physics:

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

• Correct Response: The ball with the higher mass would make a bigger splash.
  (Since the mass contributes to the force of impact, the heavier ball will displace more water upon hitting the surface, resulting in a larger splash.)

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

• Correct Response: An increase in mass causes an increase in kinetic energy.
  (Kinetic energy is given by the formula KE = 1/2 mv², where m is mass and v is velocity. If mass increases while the velocity remains the same, kinetic energy increases proportionally.)

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

• Correct Response: Some of the energy is transferred to the water.
  (When the ball hits the water, not all of its kinetic energy is retained; some of it is transferred to the water, causing waves and splashes.)

Feel free to ask if you need further explanations or have additional questions!