When the motion energy of an object changes, there is inevitably some other change in energy at the same time. If the object is slowing down, where is the energy going?
1. The potential would increase since when the ball is slowing down, its kinetic energy is being transformed into potential energy and when the ball gets hit or kicked again, it releases the potential energy and it transforms into kinetic energy.
2. The kinetic energy wouldn't exactly be lost to friction or air resistance, it's merely being converted into potential energy when the ball is slowing down due to those factors.
3. The ball returning to its natural resting state is correct since according to Newton's 1st Law in which an object that is at rest or is moving will not change unless there is another force acting upon it. in this case, the ball was kicked and there are other forces acting upon it like friction and air resistance, those factors cause the ball to slow down. Eventually the ball will stop and return to its original resting state.
4. This one is incorrect since kinetic energy is not staying the same as the person or any other force that is exerted on it be increased therefore increasing the kinetic energy.