What is the energy transformation of bouncing a basketball?

Answer 1

Chemical reactions in the cells transform stored chemical energy into muscle contractions to allow muscles in the thrower to contract and impart kinetic energy to the ball as well as some increase in potential energy while it is still the the thrower's hand. Heat is also released as the chemical reaction takes place and is dissipated into the surroundings. After the ball leaves the hand of the first player, it gains potential energy as it rises to the apex of the arc of its trajectory. It also experiences some loss of kinetic energy as it rises to that apex. After it reaches the apex of its arc, it will continue its forward motion - still having plenty of kinetic energy and begin gaining some additional kinetic energy as gravity adds a downward component to the vector of its movement. As it loses height, it also loses potential energy. Eventually it reaches the player catching it. At that point, its motion stops and the kinetic energy is converted mostly to heat, although some of it is dissipated as sound waves as it creates that satisfying "smack" as it hits the mitt of the catching player. Note that all along its path between the thrower and the catcher, friction with the air will also convert some of the kinetic energy to heat as it travels along the arc. A chemical energy is also converted to kinetic energy as the catching player moves to catch the ball and provide resistance to halt the motion of the ball.

Depending on whether the ball being caught is involved in a disputed play, there can also be a lot of chemical energy converted to sound energy and motion as the manager storms out to argue with the umpire and thousands of fans yell their opinions and hurl half-empty beer cups onto the field.