Which energy transformation occurs after a skydiver reaches terminal velocity? gravitational potential energy transforms into thermal energy. gravitational potential energy transforms into kinetic energy. kinetic energy transforms into thermal energy. kinetic energy transforms into gravitational potential energy.

This is very interesting, if you think about it.

BEFORE he reaches terminal velocity, his speed is increasing

AND he's pushing air out of the way AND he's scraping against

the air. So gravitational potential energy transforms into BOTH

kinetic energy (of the diver and the air) and thermal energy.

AFTER he reaches terminal velocity, his speed isn't changing any more,

so the gravitational potential energy that he's losing as his height decreases

isn't giving HIM any more kinetic energy, but it's still moving air out of his

way, and he's still scraping against the air. The potential energy is still

being transformed into kinetic energy (only of air, not of the diver), AND thermal energy which heats the air somewhat as he plummets through it.

Gravitational potential energy transforms into thermal energy

Explanation: