Which would have greater impact; a ball with mass m thrown with speed 20 m/s or a ball with mass m/2 thrown at speed 40 m/s?
Ball with mass m/2
K.E of ball with mass, m = 1/2 x m x 202 = 200 J
K.E of ball with mass, m/2 = 1/2 x m/2 x 402 = 400 J
Ball with smaller mass but greater speed would hit harder.