The rate of collection by a solar panel decreased steadily throughout the day due to increasing cloud cover until it reached a constant amount. Later in the day, there were two short periods where the sun appeared, only for the cloud cover to return. Which graph models the amount of energy collected depending on the time since the cloud cover began?
Answer
A
Image with description On a coordinate plane, the x-axis ranges from 0 to 30 in increments of two and one-half, and the y-axis ranges from 0 to 70 in increments of 5. The path of set of segments goes from 0 comma 60 to 10 comma 25 to 20 comma 45 to 30 comma 5.
B
Image with description On a coordinate plane, the x-axis ranges from 0 to 30 in increments of two and one-half, and the y-axis ranges from 0 to 70 in increments of 5. The path of set of segments goes from 0 comma 0 to 7.5 comma 35 to 12 comma 35 to 12.5 comma 32 to 13 comma 35 to 22 comma 35 to 22.5 comma 32 to 23 comma 35 to 30 comma 35.
C
Image with description On a coordinate plane, the x-axis ranges from 0 to 30 in increments of two and one-half, and the y-axis ranges from 0 to 70 in increments of 5. The path of set of segments goes from 0 comma 0 to 10 comma 55 to 20 comma 0 to 30 comma 55.
D
Image with description On a coordinate plane, the x-axis ranges from 0 to 30 in increments of two and one-half, and the y-axis ranges from 0 to 70 in increments of 5. The path of set of segments goes from 0 comma 60 to 7.5 comma 3 to 12 comma 5 to 12.5 comma 10 to 13 comma 5 to 22 comma 5 to 22.5 comma 10 to 23 comma 5 to 30 comma 5.
Explanation
The graph should begin with a high collection rate, fall as cloud cover increases, and then stay at a low, steady rate. When the sun briefly appears, the rate should rise for a short time and then return to that steady level; this happens twice in choice D, with brief rises near the end. Choice B has the opposite overall trend at first: its rate increases.
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