Final answer:
The correct answer is C) Potential energy is being converted to kinetic energy.This conversion is governed by the conservation of mechanical energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the conversion of potential energy to kinetic energy of a sports car with a mass of 1700kg. When a vehicle falls from the top of a parking garage, its gravitational potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. Assuming there is no air resistance, the car accelerates and its velocity increases until it hits the ground, where both potential and kinetic energies become zero. This is described by the law of conservation of mechanical energy, which states that if only conservative forces are doing work, the total mechanical energy (kinetic plus potential) of a system remains constant.
The kinetic energy (KE) of an object is given by the equation KE = 1/2mv², where m is the mass and v is the velocity. The gravitational potential energy (PE) at a height is calculated using PE = mgh, where g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s² on Earth's surface) and h is the height above the ground.