Final answer:
Tripling the speed from 20 mph to 60 mph results in a ninefold increase in kinetic energy, due to kinetic energy's direct proportionality to the square of velocity.
The correct answer is B) Your kinetic energy increases by a factor of 6.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you triple your speed from 20 mph to 60 mph, your kinetic energy increases by a factor of 9. This is because kinetic energy is directly proportional to the square of the velocity.
If you triple the velocity of an object, you are increasing the velocity by a factor of three (3), so when you square this factor (3^2), you increase the kinetic energy by a factor of nine (9). This relationship is fundamental in understanding how changes in velocity affect the kinetic energy of an object.
When you triple your speed from 20 to 60 mph, your kinetic energy increases by a factor of 6. Kinetic energy is directly proportional to the square of the velocity. So, when the velocity triples, the kinetic energy increases by a factor of 9 (3 squared), which is 6 times the initial kinetic energy.