Question

Compare the kinetic energy of a 21,000 kg truck moving at 130 km/h with that of an 84.0 kg astronaut in orbit moving at 28,000 km/h.

Answer 1

K.E of the Astronaut is greater

Step-by-step explanation:

Mathematically;

K.E = 1/2 * m * v^2

For the truck, the kinetic energy will be

1/2 * 21,000 * 130^2 = 177,450,000 J

while for the astronaut, his K.E will be

1/2 * 84 * 28,000^2 = 3.2928 * 10^10

This shows that the K.E of the astronaut is greater