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)
The wildlife keeper because they have a greater mass.
• The rabbit because it has less
mass.
The willife keeper because they speed up and catch the rabbit.
• Neither one because they are moving at the same speed.

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

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

Kinetic energy is given by the formula $KE=\frac{1}{2}m{v}^2$, where $m$ is mass and $v$ is velocity. If both the rabbit and the wildlife keeper are moving at the same speed, the determination of who has greater kinetic energy would depend on their respective masses. If they are indeed moving at the same speed, neither can be definitively said to have greater kinetic energy without knowing their masses. If you want to compare kinetic energy accurately, you need to know both their masses and speeds.