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

Question

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

Answer 1

The correct answer is:
• The wildlife keeper because they have a greater mass.

Kinetic energy depends on both an object's mass and its velocity. Since the wildlife keeper has a greater mass than the rabbit, even if they are moving at the same speed, the wildlife keeper will have a greater kinetic energy.