When a freely falling object stops upon hitting the ground, its kinetic energy is not lost, but rather transformed into other forms of energy. This transformation primarily occurs as heat (due to friction and deformation) and sound (due to the collision). Additionally, some kinetic energy might be temporarily stored as potential energy (if the object bounces back).
Here’s a more detailed explanation:
Initial State:
Before impact, the falling object possesses both kinetic energy (due to its motion) and potential energy (due to its height).
Impact:
As the object hits the ground, its kinetic energy is converted into other forms of energy.
Heat:
The force of impact generates friction, causing the object and the ground to heat up.
Sound:
The impact produces a sound wave.
Potential Energy:
If the object bounces back, some of the kinetic energy might be temporarily stored as potential energy before it’s converted back into kinetic energy and dissipated again.
Deformation:
If the object deforms upon impact (like a ball squashing), some of the kinetic energy is used to change its shape.
In essence, the kinetic energy is not destroyed but rather redistributed into different forms of energy during the impact.