Use the image to answer the question.

Question

An illustration shows a person running after a rabbit. The person weighs 60 kilograms, and the rabbit weighs 4 kilograms. The speed of both is 5 meters per second.

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

(1 point)
Responses

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

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

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

The rabbit because it has less mass.

Answer 1

To determine who has the greater kinetic energy, we can use the kinetic energy formula:

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

Where \( m \) is the mass and \( v \) is the speed.

For the wildlife keeper:

• Mass (\( m \)) = 60 kg
• Speed (\( v \)) = 5 m/s

\[ KE_{\text{keeper}} = \frac{1}{2} \times 60 \times (5^2) = \frac{1}{2} \times 60 \times 25 = 750 \text{ Joules} \]

For the rabbit:

• Mass (\( m \)) = 4 kg
• Speed (\( v \)) = 5 m/s

\[ KE_{\text{rabbit}} = \frac{1}{2} \times 4 \times (5^2) = \frac{1}{2} \times 4 \times 25 = 50 \text{ Joules} \]

Now we compare the kinetic energies:

• Kinetic energy of the wildlife keeper = 750 Joules
• Kinetic energy of the rabbit = 50 Joules

Thus, the wildlife keeper has the greater kinetic energy because they have a greater mass and are moving at the same speed.

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