Final answer:
A bouncing basketball will not remain in motion forever because its kinetic energy is transformed into sound and heat energy with each bounce, which reduces its ability to bounce back to the original height until it comes to a stop.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that BEST explains why a bouncing basketball will not remain in motion forever is that the energy is transferred to sound and heat energy. When a basketball bounces, some of its kinetic energy is converted into other forms of energy, such as sound, when it hits the ground, and heat, due to the deformation of the ball and friction with the ground. This energy transfer is in accordance with the law of conservation of energy, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed but can be transformed from one form to another. The loss of kinetic energy to sound and heat during each bounce prevents the ball from bouncing back to its original height, and over time it comes to a stop.
Comparatively, energy is not destroyed, but its conversion into sound and heat means it is no longer available to keep the ball bouncing. Additionally, while energy can be converted to potential energy during the bounce, this does not contradict the fact that during each collision with the ground, some energy is lost to non-recoverable forms like heat and sound. Thus, the option involving energy transfer to chemical and heat energy, or light and potential energy, does not best explain the motion of a bouncing basketball.