The cable of a 2048-kg elevator has broken, and the elevator is moving downward at a steady speed of 1.59 m/s.

The cable of a 2048-kg elevator has broken, and the elevator is moving downward at a steady speed of 1.59 m/s. A safety braking system that works on friction prevents the downward speed from increasing. At what rate is the braking system converting mechanical energy to thermal energy?