When a ball is above the table, the ball has some potential energy and when the ball is dropped from the table to the ground, that potential energy gets converted into kinetic energy.
But where does that energy go when the ball has dropped all the way to the ground? At the ground, the potential energy should be zero because no height and since the ball is not moving, the kinetic energy should also be zero. But according to the law of thermodynamics, “energy cannot be destroyed.” So my question is, where does the energy go when the ball reaches the ground?
In: Chemistry
It gets converted to other forms.:
* heat from friction between the ball and the floor, leaving the ball and floor spot slightly warmer
* heat within the ball from it flexing and deforming on impact, leaving the ball interior slightly warmer
* sound – the sound energy of the ball landing or bouncing
* momentum transfer to the Earth (which doesn’t move it much because it’s a lot heavier than the ball)
Latest Answers