Factors that Affect Kinetic Energy Quick Check

Question

4 of 54 of 5 Items

Question
A student drops a 350-gram rock and a 500-gram rock into a pool from a height of 8 meters. Which statement about the investigation is accurate?(1 point)
Responses

The 500-gram rock causes a smaller splash because it has more mass.
The 500-gram rock causes a smaller splash because it has more mass.

The 350-gram rock causes a larger splash because it has less mass.
The 350-gram rock causes a larger splash because it has less mass.

The 500-gram rock causes a larger splash because it has more kinetic energy.
The 500-gram rock causes a larger splash because it has more kinetic energy.

The 350-gram rock causes a smaller splash because it has more kinetic energy.
The 350-gram rock causes a smaller splash because it has more kinetic energy.
Skip to navigation

Answer 1

The most accurate statement about the investigation is:

The 500-gram rock causes a larger splash because it has more kinetic energy.

This conclusion is based on the fact that kinetic energy is determined by both mass and velocity, and, in this case, both rocks are dropped from the same height and thus will have the same velocity upon impact. However, the 500-gram rock has more mass, which results in greater kinetic energy (KE = 1/2 mv²). Therefore, when it hits the water, it displaces more water and causes a larger splash.