Question

a student drops a rubber ball from the top of a staircase. as the ball bounces up and down, what best explains the changes in energy?

b. potential energy changes to kinetic energy and back again.

a. energy is destroyed as the ball bounces.

d. energy stays only as potential energy.

c. kinetic energy is lost, but potential energy increases.

Explanation:

According to the law of conservation of energy, energy is not created or destroyed. When the ball is at the top of the staircase, it has potential energy. As it falls, potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. When it bounces up, kinetic energy is converted back to potential energy.

Answer:

B. Potential energy changes to kinetic energy and back again.