Two students drop an object into sand from a height of 1.5 meters. They record the depth of the hole made in the sand by each student’s object. What is the most likely explanation for the results?
*
1 point
Maddie’s object has a smaller width.
Naveed’s object has less mass.
Naveed’s object had greater kinetic energy.
Naveed’s object had greater kinetic energy.
The most likely explanation for the results is that Naveed's object had greater kinetic energy.
To determine the most likely explanation for the results, we need to understand the factors that could affect the depth of the hole made in the sand.
The first option suggests that Maddie's object has a smaller width. If the width of the object determines the depth of the hole, it is possible that Maddie's object has a smaller width, resulting in a shallower hole. However, without more information about the shape and density of the objects, it is not clear how the width would directly influence the depth.
The second option proposes that Naveed's object has less mass. If mass affects the depth of the hole, it is possible that Naveed's object, being lighter, would create a shallower hole compared to Maddie's object with a greater mass. However, the relationship between mass and depth would depend on other factors like the shape of the object and the velocity at which it hit the sand.
The third option states that Naveed's object had greater kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is directly influenced by both mass and velocity. If Naveed's object had greater kinetic energy, it means it was either moving at a higher velocity or had a greater mass or both. This indicates that Naveed's object could potentially create a deeper hole due to the higher energy of impact.
Given the information provided, the most likely explanation for the results would be that Naveed's object had greater kinetic energy, either due to higher velocity, greater mass, or both. However, without further details such as the shapes or composition of the objects, it is difficult to determine the exact reason for the results.