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How many muscles are in an elephant's trunk?

a) 10
b) 100
c) 10,000
d) 150,000

1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

There are approximately 150,000 muscles in an elephant's trunk. To have the same kinetic energy as a sprinter, a 3000-kg elephant must move at around 1.47 m/s. Larger animals like elephants have higher metabolic rates due to their greater energy requirements for movement.

Step-by-step explanation:

Elephant's Trunk Muscles

The correct answer to the question is d) 150,000 muscles. An elephant's trunk is an incredibly complex organ that contains about 150,000 muscle units, including both muscle fibers and connective tissue. The trunk serves multiple purposes for an elephant, including breathing, smelling, touching, grasping, and producing sounds. It's a remarkable example of evolutionary adaptation, providing the elephant with the necessary agility and strength to perform a wide array of tasks.

Kinetic Energy Comparison

To have the same kinetic energy as a 65.0-kg sprinter running at 10.0 m/s, we need to use the formula for kinetic energy, which is KE = 1/2 mv2, where m is the mass and v is the velocity. First, we'll calculate the kinetic energy of the sprinter and then solve for the velocity of the elephant when it's set to have the same kinetic energy.

Kinetic energy of the sprinter (KE_sprinter):
KE_sprinter = 1/2 65.0 kg (10.0 m/s)2 = 3250 J

Now, setting the kinetic energy of the elephant (KE_elephant) equal to that of the sprinter's, we solve for the elephant's velocity:

3250 J = 1/2 3000 kg v2
v2 = 3250 J / 1500 kg = 2.17 m2/s2
v = √(2.17 m2/s2) ≈ 1.47 m/s

The elephant would have to move at approximately 1.47 m/s to have the same kinetic energy as the sprinter.

Metabolic Rates

The metabolic rates of larger animals are higher because of the larger energies required for movement. Larger bodies mean that more muscle work needs to be done to perform the same action, which in turn requires more energy. Therefore, in order to fuel their movements and maintain other bodily functions, the metabolic rates of larger animals need to be higher to meet these energy demands.

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