Final answer:
In a battery-powered resistive circuit, chemical potential energy is first converted to electrical energy, which then flows through the circuit and is converted to thermal energy due to resistance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question of which energy conversion best describes what takes place in a battery-powered resistive circuit when the current is flowing is D. Chemical to electric to thermal. In a battery, chemical potential energy is stored and during the operation of the circuit, this energy is released in a chemical reaction. This reaction converts the chemical energy into electrical energy, which then flows through the circuit. As the electrical energy passes through the resistive elements in the circuit, such as resistors or the resistance within the battery itself, it is converted into thermal energy due to the resistance to the flow of electrons.