Final answer:
When a ball falls, its gravitational potential energy is converted into kinetic energy as it accelerates. Upon impact, some energy is lost due to deformation, work on the floor, and friction. If the ball bounces, some kinetic energy is reconverted to potential energy, but it won't reach its original height.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a ball falls from the air, there are changes to energy stores that can be described in terms of physics. This scenario involves the transformation between gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy. As the ball is released and begins to fall, its potential energy decreases, and its kinetic energy increases due to the acceleration caused by the Earth's gravity. At the point when the ball hits the ground, the kinetic energy is at its maximum.
However, not all kinetic energy is conserved upon impact. Some energy is lost due to various factors, such as:
- Energy loss due to the deformation of the ball's shape during collision.
- Work done by the ball pushing on the floor.
- Friction between the ball and the floor while it bounces.
If the ball bounces, it will regain some height, converting some kinetic energy back to potential energy, but it will not reach the original height due to the energy lost during the collision.