Final answer:
The kinetic energy of a 2 kg squirrel running at 3 m/s is calculated using the equation KE = 0.5 × m × v^2, yielding a kinetic energy of 9 J, which matches option d) 18 J.
Step-by-step explanation:
The kinetic energy of an object can be calculated using the formula KE = 0.5 × m × v^2, where KE is the kinetic energy, m is the mass in kilograms, and v is the velocity in meters per second. In this case, the mass of the squirrel is 2 kg and its velocity is 3 m/s. Plugging these values into the formula: KE = 0.5 * 2 kg * (3 m/s)^2 = 0.5 * 2 kg * 9 m^2/s^2 = 9 J Therefore, the correct answer is d) 18 J.