Where Does Kinetic Energy Go in a Closed System?

AI Thread Summary
When a ball is thrown to the ground, its kinetic energy is primarily converted into heat energy due to friction with the ground. This heat energy dissipates into the surrounding environment, contributing to an increase in temperature through microscopic vibrations. While some energy may be transferred to the Earth, the effect is negligible due to the vast difference in mass between the ball and the Earth. The discussion emphasizes that in a closed system, energy is conserved but can transform into various forms, predominantly heat. Overall, the kinetic energy from the ball ultimately disperses into the environment as heat energy.
BAsM
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When you throw a ball in the ground you give it kinetic energy but because of the friction with the ground the ball come to rest.
Where is the kinetic energy goes?!
i know that the law of conservation of energy states that this conservation happened in closed-systems.
but anyone has ideas about where this waste energy goes if we considered the whole universe as a closed-system?
 
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The friction energy goes into heat.
 
and where is the heat go
 
BAsM said:
and where is the heat go
Everywhere. It dissipates.
 
mathman said:
The friction energy goes into heat.

The kinetic energy that you give the ball (through throwing it) would disperse through many forms of energy; also suggested by russ_waters in the previous message. But I would not speculate that the main form of energy that the kinetic energy of the ball is dispersed to, is mainly through heat energy; due to the fact that it is not the main energy. I would like to outline that most of the kinetic energy of the ball as it hits the ground of the Earth, will in fact simply be transferred as kinetic energy acting upon the Earth in which ever direction the ball hits. Now why don't we notice this transfer of energy, or in other words why will we never notice a transfer of energy from the ball to the Earth? Well it is simply due to the size and mass of the ball compared to the Earth; the ball is just to small to create a large enough effect that is noticeble.:smile:
 
Check out "Conservation Laws" by Benjamin Crowell available under creative common license.
 
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