Question

An asteroid is hurtling towards Earth with a large amount of kinetic energy. When it enters the atmosphere it creates a small amount of gravitational energy. Once the asteroid hits the Earth, the asteroid breaks apart. What happens to the gravitational energy?

Answer 1

All the gravitational energy is converted mostly to the kinetic energy of the debris of the asteroid as they scatter everywhere. Also, some of it is converted to the sound energy of the impact that will be heard and heat energy.