Answer to Question #99582 in Mechanics | Relativity for Janae

Question

what is the kinetic energy of the continent

Answer 1

The mass of the North American continent, for instance, is estimated to be $2.35095\cdot10^{23}$ kg. It moves at the rate of 3.8 cm/year. The kinetic energy is

$$KE=mv^2/2=\\ \space\\ =\frac{1}{2}2.35095\cdot10^{23}\cdot\bigg[3.8\cdot\frac{1}{100\cdot365\cdot3600}\bigg]^2=\\\space\\=1706.74\text{ J}.$$