Which statement best describes the energy involved when an apple falls to the ground?

The statement that best describes the energy involved when an apple falls to the ground is that stored potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. As the apple hangs on the tree, it possesses gravitational potential energy due to its height above the ground. When it falls, this potential energy decreases as the apple descends, while its speed increases, demonstrating the conversion into kinetic energy. This transformation is a key concept in physics, illustrating how energy changes form while conserving the total energy in a closed system.

In contrast, the other statements do not accurately capture the energy dynamics involved in the fall of the apple. The second choice suggests that kinetic energy transforms into potential energy, which is the opposite of what occurs during the fall. The third choice implies that energy is lost, which contradicts the law of conservation of energy since the total energy remains constant. Finally, the last option states that kinetic energy remains constant, which is also incorrect, as the kinetic energy actually increases as the apple accelerates toward the ground due to gravity.