Each week, Mrs. Wolters will offer up a new ACT challenge question. Be one of the first five students to find her in rm. 100 with the correct answer, and you could receive a candy prize. Have fun!

The answer to last week’s question:  J

This was a tough one — lots of good guesses, but no one answered it correctly. This type of question can be solved using the PIN strategy: Plug In Numbers. Want to learn more about this strategy? Plan to attend the ACT study session on Wednesday during 2nd hour to review the PIN strategy, which can be used on several types of ACT Math questions.

Week #6: SCIENCE

In a study of velocity and kinetic energy, a cart was tested in 9 different trials. The cart carried different masses down 3 ramps of different inclinations. Table 1 shows the mass carried by the cart, the height from which it was released, and the distance it rolled to get to the end of the ramp. The table also lists the speed and kinetic energy of the cart as it reached the bottom of the ramp.

Which of the following relationships between mass and kinetic energy is indicated by the data for Trials 3 and 5 ?

F. Mass is inversely proportional to kinetic energy.

G. Mass is directly proportional to kinetic energy.

H. Mass squared is proportional to kinetic energy.

J. Mass is directly proportional to kinetic energy squared.