Final answer:
In the Energy Skate Park Simulation, as friction increases, thermal energy increases due to the conversion of kinetic energy into heat.
Step-by-step explanation:
When using the Energy Skate Park Simulation, as the friction increases, thermal energy also increases. This is because friction is a force that opposes motion, converting part of the skater's kinetic energy into thermal energy as heat. Hence, when friction is present in the simulation, the skater slows down, indicating a loss of kinetic energy, and this lost energy is primarily transformed into thermal energy due to the work done against friction.