# A ball is dropped from a height and bounces on the floor several times before coming to rest. Explain, using the idea of conservation of energy, why the ball does not return to its original height after each bounce.

> AQA GCSE Physics (8463) — 4.1.2 Conservation and dissipation of energy · Explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Energy cannot be created or destroyed (conservation of energy)
2. Some of the ball's energy is dissipated / transferred as thermal energy or sound energy during each bounce
3. The ball has less (gravitational potential / kinetic) energy available after each bounce than it had before
4. Therefore the ball cannot rise to the same height because it has insufficient energy to do so

## Key terms

- [conservation of energy](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/conservation-of-energy)

## Related

- [Revision notes for AQA GCSE Physics (8463)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-ball-is-dropped-from-a-79c84846) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.