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. The 500-gram rock causes a larger splash because it has more kinetic energy
2. The 350-gram rock causes a larger splash because it has less mass
3. The 500-gram rock causes a smaller splash because it has more mass
4. The 350-gram rock causes a smaller splash because it has more kinetic energy
To determine which statement is accurate, we need to understand the relationship between mass and kinetic energy when an object is dropped into a pool.
The kinetic energy of an object is given by the formula:
Kinetic energy = 0.5 * mass * velocity^2
When an object is dropped into a pool, its velocity just before impact is determined by the height it was dropped from. Both rocks in this scenario are dropped from the same height of 8 meters, so they have the same velocity just before impact.
Now, let's compare the kinetic energies of the two rocks. Since the velocity is the same for both rocks and doesn't change, the kinetic energy is directly proportional to mass.
Therefore, the statement that correctly describes the investigation is:
1. The 500-gram rock causes a larger splash because it has more kinetic energy.
Option 1 is the correct statement. The kinetic energy of an object is directly proportional to its mass. Since the 500-gram rock has more mass than the 350-gram rock, it will have more kinetic energy as it enters the pool. This will result in a larger splash.
To determine which statement is accurate, we need to consider the factors that affect the size of the splash.
The size of the splash depends on the kinetic energy of the rock when it hits the water. The kinetic energy of an object can be calculated using the formula: kinetic energy = 0.5 * mass * velocity^2.
To compare the kinetic energy, we need to consider both the mass and velocity of each rock. Assuming both rocks are dropped from the same height, they will have the same velocity when they hit the water. Therefore, the mass becomes the determining factor.
Comparing the two rocks, the 500-gram rock has more mass than the 350-gram rock. According to the formula, if we keep the velocity constant, a larger mass will result in more kinetic energy.
Therefore, the accurate statement would be:
1. The 500-gram rock causes a larger splash because it has more kinetic energy.