Final answer:
The kinetic energy of a cruise ship with a mass of 6.40 × 10⁷ kg moving at 12.6 m/s is calculated using the kinetic energy formula and found to be 5.08 × 10¹ J.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking about the kinetic energy of a large cruise ship at a certain speed. Kinetic energy (KE) is the energy of an object in motion, and it can be calculated using the formula KE = ½ mv², where m is the mass and v is the velocity of the object.
Using the information provided (mass of the ship as 6.40 × 10⁷ kg and a speed of 12.6 m/s):
KE = ½ × 6.40 × 10⁷ kg × (12.6 m/s)²
KE = ½ × 6.40 × 10⁷ kg × 158.76 m²/s²
KE = 5.08 × 10⁷ kg × m²/s²
KE = 5.08 × 10¹ J (joules)
The ship's kinetic energy at this instant is therefore 5.08 × 10¹ J.