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
When the ball hits the ground (which is the entire earth) it transfers that momentum to the planet earth. The Energy is absorbed by the earth.
Also, some of the energy will her transformed into heat energy due to the molecules of the ball/earth deforming and rubbing and having friction with each other during the collision
Edit: yes, this does mean if you hit earth with a big enough ball you could change its orbit. Conservation of momentum.
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