As a rocket rises, its kinetic energy changes. At the time the rocket reaches its highest point, most of the kinetic energy of rocket has been
A permanently destroyed.
B stored in bonds between its atoms.
C changed to thermal energy due to friction.
D transformed into gravitational potential energy.

Kinetic energy is the energy associated with movement and potential energy is the energy associated with position in a system. Energy, in general, is the ability to do a job.

Both kinetic and potential energy represent the two fundamental types of existing energy. Any other energy is a different version of kinetic or potential energy or a combination of both. For example, mechanical energy is the combination of kinetic and potential energy.

Kinetic energy is the type of energy that is associated with movement. Anything that is moving has kinetic energy. It can be calculated using the formula:

[tex]E_k=\frac{1}{2} mv^2[/tex]

Where:

[tex]m=mass\hspace{3}of\hspace{3}the\hspace{3}object\\v=velocity\hspace{3}of\hspace{3}the\hspace{3}object[/tex]

Potential energy is the type of energy that is associated with the relative position within a system, that is, the position of an object with respect to another. It can be calculated using the formula:

[tex]E_p=mgh[/tex]

Where:

[tex]g=gravitational\hspace{3}acceleration\hspace{3}constant\\m=mass\hspace{3}of\hspace{3}the\hspace{3}object\\h=It\hspace{3}is\hspace{3}the\hspace{3}distance\hspace{3}(height\hspace{3}in \hspace{3}meters) between\hspace{3}the\hspace{3}Earth\hspace{3}and\hspace{3}the\hspace{3}object.[/tex]

So, at the highest point, the velocity of the rocket would be zero, and the distance respect to the launch point would be maximum. Hence according to the previous equation its kinetic energy would zero and its potential energy would be the highest. in another words the kinetic energy of rocket has been transformed into gravitational potential energy.