A student wants to determine the effect of mass on kinetic energy. She will drop two balls of the same size into a pool of water. Which investigation method should the student use? (1 point)

Question

She should drop two balls with
• different masses from different heights.
She should drop two balls with
• different masses from the same height.
O She should drop two balls of the same mass from different heights.
O She should drop two balls of the same mass from the same height.

Answer 1

The most appropriate investigation method for the student to determine the effect of mass on kinetic energy is:

She should drop two balls with different masses from the same height.

This method allows her to isolate the variable of mass, while controlling for height, which is crucial since gravitational potential energy is converted to kinetic energy as the balls fall. By keeping the height the same, she can directly compare the kinetic energy of the two balls when they hit the water, attributing any differences in kinetic energy to their differing masses.