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

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 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.

The rabbit because it has less mass.
The rabbit because it has less mass.

Answer 1

To determine who has greater kinetic energy between the wildlife keeper and the rabbit, we can use the kinetic energy formula:

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

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

For the wildlife keeper:

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

Calculating the kinetic energy of the wildlife keeper:

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

For the rabbit:

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

Calculating the kinetic energy of the rabbit:

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

Comparing the two 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.

The correct response is:

The wildlife keeper because they have a greater mass.