A basketball is dropped from a height of 2m and has a rebound of only 1.5m. what happened to that energy that was lost?
The energy is transferred and converted to other forms.
For instance, if a ball is dropped to the ground, during its fall, it experiences air resistance (thus friction with air). The energy is lost to the air.
If it hits the ground and you heard a sound, then some of its energy is converted to sound. The friction with the ground, deformations of the ground and the ball during impact also contribute to loss of ball's energy, as it creates heat.
These aren't the only reasons though. There are plenty others.
When a basketball is dropped from a height, it possesses potential energy due to its position above the ground. As it falls, this potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, which is the energy of motion. However, when the basketball hits the ground, not all of the energy is converted back into potential energy for the rebound. Some of the energy is lost or dissipated in various forms.
Here are the steps to explain what happened to the lost energy:
1. Initial Potential Energy: When the basketball is dropped from a height of 2m, it possesses potential energy due to its position above the ground. The higher the object is lifted, the more potential energy it has.
2. Conversion to Kinetic Energy: As the basketball falls, its potential energy gets converted into kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is the energy associated with motion. The basketball gains kinetic energy as it falls towards the ground.
3. Energy Lost Upon Impact: When the basketball hits the ground, it experiences a collision. This collision causes the energy to be transferred to other forms, resulting in some energy loss. The amount of energy lost depends on various factors such as the elasticity of the basketball and the surface it hits.
4. Heat Energy: Some of the lost energy is converted into heat energy. When the basketball collides with the floor, there is microscopic deformation and friction between the surfaces involved. This deformation and friction produce heat energy, causing a portion of the energy to dissipate.
5. Sound Energy: Another part of the lost energy is converted into sound energy. When the basketball hits the ground, it creates a sound due to the collision. This sound energy is a result of the vibration in the air caused by the impact.
6. Elastic Potential Energy: A portion of the lost energy is converted into elastic potential energy. This energy is stored temporarily when the basketball is compressed or deformed upon impact. When the basketball rebounds, it releases some of this stored energy. However, in this case, since the rebound height is lower (1.5m), it indicates that not all the stored energy is converted back into potential energy, resulting in some energy loss.
Therefore, overall, the energy that was lost upon the rebound of the basketball is dissipated as heat energy and sound energy due to the collision with the ground.
When a basketball is dropped from a height, its potential energy is converted into kinetic energy as it falls. However, when it rebounds (bounces back) to a height lower than the initial drop height, some energy is lost. This loss of energy occurs due to various factors such as air resistance, friction, and the deformation of the basketball itself.
To calculate the energy loss, we need to find the difference in potential energy between the initial drop height and the rebound height. The potential energy (PE) of an object is given by the formula:
PE = m * g * h
Where:
- m is the mass of the basketball,
- g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s²),
- h is the height.
Let's assume the mass of the basketball is 0.5 kg.
Initial PE = 0.5 kg * 9.8 m/s² * 2 m = 9.8 Joules
Rebound PE = 0.5 kg * 9.8 m/s² * 1.5 m = 7.35 Joules
Energy loss = Initial PE - Rebound PE
= 9.8 Joules - 7.35 Joules
= 2.45 Joules
Therefore, the energy loss is approximately 2.45 Joules. This energy is converted into other forms, such as heat, sound, and deformation of the basketball during the collision with the ground.