A wildlife keeper is trying to catch an escaping rabbit. Who has the greater kinetic energy, the rabbit or the wildlife keeper?

Question

(1 point)
Responses

Neither one because they are moving at the same speed.
Neither one because they are moving at the same speed.

The wildlife keeper because they have a greater mass.
The wildlife keeper because they have a greater mass.

The wildlife keeper because they speed up and catch the rabbit.
The wildlife keeper because they speed up and catch the rabbit.

The rabbit because it has less mass.

Answer 1

To determine who has the greater kinetic energy, we need to consider the formula for kinetic energy, which is:

\[ KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 \]

where \( KE \) is kinetic energy, \( m \) is mass, and \( v \) is velocity.

1. If the rabbit and the wildlife keeper are moving at the same speed, the kinetic energy depends on their masses. Even if they have the same speed, the one with the greater mass will have greater kinetic energy.
2. If the wildlife keeper has a greater mass than the rabbit, then the wildlife keeper will have a greater kinetic energy despite possibly moving at the same speed.
3. If the rabbit has less mass but is moving faster than the wildlife keeper, then it might have greater kinetic energy, but that depends on the specific speeds involved.

Given the options provided and assuming the wildlife keeper has greater mass, the most reasonable answer would be:

The wildlife keeper because they have a greater mass.