Final answer:
The force that prevents a ball from rolling indefinitely is friction. Friction opposes the ball's motion, causing it to eventually stop, which is consistent with Newton's first law of motion that states an object will maintain its motion unless acted upon by an external force.
Step-by-step explanation:
The force that prevents a ball rolling on the ground from continuing on its path forever is friction. When a ball is rolled along a surface, friction between the ball and the surface exerts a resistive force that opposes the motion. This results in the ball eventually coming to a stop. According to Newton's first law of motion, if this resistive force were absent, the ball would continue to move at a constant velocity indefinitely. For instance, in the vacuum of space, where friction is negligible, an object can coast without stopping.
Galileo highlighted that a force is necessary not only to initiate movement but also to change an object's state of motion, which includes slowing down or stopping. Hence, without the presence of external forces like friction, an object will maintain its state of motion. This principle is applied in various scenarios, such as using a lubricant to reduce friction, allowing an object to slide further, or playing on an air hockey table where the air creates a near-frictionless surface causing the puck to glide smoothly.