Final answer:
The temperature of the ball affects its bounce height: warmer temperatures increase internal pressure and result in a higher bounce, while cooler temperatures decrease pressure and reduce bounce height. Additionally, during collisions, some kinetic energy is converted to other forms of energy, causing a reduction in the bounce height.
Step-by-step explanation:
The temperature of the ball can significantly affect the height that it bounces. As temperature increases, the gases inside a ball such as a basketball or tennis ball expand, causing increased internal pressure. This higher pressure allows the ball to retain more of its shape and deform less upon impact, resulting in a higher bounce. Conversely, in colder temperatures, the gas molecules inside the ball contract, which decreases the internal pressure. As a result, the ball deforms more on impact and doesn't rebound as high. The loss of kinetic energy as described for a rubber ball dropping from a fixed height and rebounding to only 90% of that height is due to the conversion of some kinetic energy into other forms, such as heat, and sound, and the deformation of the ball during the impact with the floor.