Final answer:
The kinetic energy of a tennis ball increases as it falls from a tall building, transforming from potential to kinetic energy due to gravity. The loss of kinetic energy in a bouncing ball is due to the transformation into other forms like heat and sound, demonstrating energy conservation and transformation principles.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a tennis ball is dropped from a tall building, its kinetic energy increases as it falls. This is because the potential energy the ball has due to its elevated position is converted into kinetic energy as it descends. The process of a ball or any object falling towards the Earth can be thought of as a transformation of energy from potential to kinetic. As the ball accelerates due to gravity, its potential energy decreases while its kinetic energy increases, assuming no energy is lost to air resistance or other forms of dissipation.
If we consider a rubber ball dropped from a fixed height that bounces back to just 90% of that height, the loss of kinetic energy during the collision can be attributed to energy being converted into other forms. These forms can include heat, due to the deformation of the ball and friction with the surface, and sound. This phenomenon demonstrates the principle that while energy cannot be created or destroyed (the law of conservation of energy), it can be transformed from one form to another, and during such transformations, some energy may be dissipated into forms that do not contribute to the ball's rebound height.