A racehorse is running at 42 miles per hour, equivalent to 18.8 meters per second. The horse and its jockey have a combined mass of 512 kilograms. How much kinetic energy do they have?

Question

90,480.6J
451,584.0J
180,961.3 J
4,812.8J

Answer 1

To calculate the kinetic energy, we can use the formula:

Kinetic Energy = 1/2 * mass * velocity^2

The mass is given as 512 kilograms and the velocity is given as 18.8 meters per second.

Kinetic Energy = 1/2 * 512 kg * (18.8 m/s)^2
Kinetic Energy = 1/2 * 512 kg * (354.4 m^2/s^2)
Kinetic Energy = 1/2 * 512 kg * 125,329.6 m^2/s^2
Kinetic Energy = 1/2 * 65,343,872 kg * m^2/s^2
Kinetic Energy = 32,671,936 kg * m^2/s^2
Kinetic Energy = 32,671,936 Joules or 32,671.936 kJ

Therefore, the correct answer is 32,671,936 J. None of the given options matches this value.