Energy question?

[kashiark]

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
A golf ball will bounce much higher on concrete than on carpet. What happens to this lost energy?


2. Relevant equations



3. The attempt at a solution
The carpet stores it as potential energy?

[SeanGillespie]

What happens to the carpet as the ball hits it?

[kashiark]

It sinks in, but then it recoils, so I would think that it would relinquish any potential energy it had then.

[SeanGillespie]

Gawd... I'm not actually too sure myself come to think of it. My understanding is that some of the kinetic energy of the ball would be transferred to kinetic energy in the carpet.

It will be related to impulse somehow; working in a similar way to a crumple zone on a car.

I could be totally astray though; will be interested to see someone else's response.

[kashiark]

Well, when it recoils, it moves, so I suppose that if enough of it moved and if it was massive enough, that would make sense.