select the correct answer.\nanya lifts a ball high above her head and drops it. the ball bounces up and…

select the correct answer.\nanya lifts a ball high above her head and drops it. the ball bounces up and down. she observes that the ball loses height every time it bounces. how can this situation be explained?\n○ a. some of the balls energy changes to thermal energy when it hits the ground.\n○ b. the ball loses some of its energy to the force of gravity.\n○ c. theres no air resistance (drag) on the ball.\n○ d. the mass of the ball changes with each bounce.

select the correct answer.\nanya lifts a ball high above her head and drops it. the ball bounces up and down. she observes that the ball loses height every time it bounces. how can this situation be explained?\n○ a. some of the balls energy changes to thermal energy when it hits the ground.\n○ b. the ball loses some of its energy to the force of gravity.\n○ c. theres no air resistance (drag) on the ball.\n○ d. the mass of the ball changes with each bounce.

Answer

Answer:

A. Some of the ball’s energy changes to thermal energy when it hits the ground.

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze Option A

When the ball hits the ground, there is an inelastic collision. Due to friction and deformation during the collision, some of the mechanical energy (kinetic and potential) of the ball is converted into thermal energy (heat). This reduces the total mechanical energy available for the ball to bounce back to the same height.

Step2: Analyze Option B

Gravity is a conservative force. It does work on the ball (converting potential energy to kinetic energy as it falls and vice - versa as it rises). But it does not cause a loss of energy. The total mechanical energy in a system with only conservative forces (like an idealized gravitational system with no other forces) would be conserved.

Step3: Analyze Option C

If there were no air resistance, the ball would still lose height due to the inelastic collision with the ground (energy loss as thermal energy during collision). Also, the statement “There’s no air resistance (drag) on the ball” is not the reason for the height loss observed in the problem (the main non - conservative effect here is the collision with the ground).

Step4: Analyze Option D

The mass of the ball is a fundamental property (assuming no material is added or removed from the ball). It does not change with each bounce.