Energy transformations during rocket launch

Steps:

• Rocket fuel undergoes combustion, converting stored chemical energy into thermal and kinetic energy.
• This propels the rocket upward, increasing its speed and thus kinetic energy.
• As height above the launch pad increases, gravitational potential energy rises.
• Overall, chemical energy decreases while kinetic and potential energies increase, conserving total energy.

Why A is correct:

• Conservation of energy law states chemical energy from fuel transforms into kinetic energy (1/2 mv²) for motion and gravitational potential energy (mgh) for height gain.

Why the others are wrong:

• B: Omits kinetic energy, which increases as the rocket accelerates.
• C: Ignores gravitational potential energy, which grows with altitude.
• D: Excludes chemical energy, the initial source being depleted.

Final answer: A