Question

As a car is slowed, most of its kinetic energy is converted by the brakes to:

O
potential energy.
O
electrical energy
O
thermal energy
O
chemical energy

Answer 1

When a car is slowed, the kinetic energy is primarily converted to thermal energy due to the friction between the brakes and the wheels. However, in hybrid vehicles, some of this energy can also be converted into electrical energy and stored in batteries.

Step-by-step explanation:

As a car is slowed, most of its kinetic energy is converted by the brakes to thermal energy. This occurs because the brakes use friction to reduce the car's speed, transforming the motion energy into heat energy. This is apparent when after a car is brought to a stop, the brakes can become very hot. This heat is a form of dissipated energy and is no longer available to do mechanical work, such as moving the car.

In the case of hybrid vehicles, this concept is further utilized, where the brakes convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, which is then stored in the battery.