Final answer:
The average speed of a race car, like a dragster reaching speeds over 300 mph, is vastly slower than the speed of a rocket in space, which can be around 27,500 km/h. This difference is due to the varying purposes and environments in which they operate.
Step-by-step explanation:
When comparing the average speed of a race car to the speed of a rocket in space, it's important to consider the vast differences in their respective environments and purposes. Drag racing cars, known as dragsters, can reach speeds exceeding 300 mph (approximately 134 m/s) by the end of a quarter-mile (402 m) track, with acceleration rates of up to 26 m/s². By contrast, rockets in space operate in a vacuum and without air resistance, achieving much higher speeds – orbital speeds can be around 27,500 km/h (approximately 7,640 m/s) – due to the need to overcome Earth's gravity and maintain orbit.
The kinetic energy involved in each of these systems is another aspect to consider. The kinetic energy depends on both the mass and the square of the velocity. For a 20,000-kg truck moving at 110 km/h, compared to an 80.0-kg astronaut in orbit at 27,500 km/h, the kinetic energy of the astronaut is much higher despite the lower mass, due to the immensely higher velocity.
In summary, while race cars are impressively fast by terrestrial standards, the speeds achieved by rockets are on a completely different scale, necessary to undertake space travel and exploration.