annoying energy questions

[ruby_duby]

Explain what is happening to energy when a rubber ball is dropped and bounces.

Why does the ball eventually stop bouncing?

PLEASE HELP! [8)]

[arcnets]

ruby_duby,
I have no idea how much you know about physics. But if you asked this question to a child, it'd probably answer:

"Why shouldn't it stop bouncing? I've never seen a ball that bounced forever, so it's just natural that it will stop after some time. Silly question."

This is not so stupid as it seems, because physics is here to explain observations.

But seriously. You got to answer the question "What happens to energy?".
This question can only arise from the assumption that "Nothing happens to energy if the ball bounces forever".

So please tell me what ideas lead to this assumption. And I'll help more.