Two balls begin at rest at the top of a staircase. One ball bounces down the staircase. The bounces are perfectly elastic, the ball and stairs being perfectly ideal. The other ball falls freely over the same vertical distance. How do the energies of the two balls compare, when they reach the bottom of the staircase?
Answers
answer 1 Same kinetic energy, different potential.
answer 2 Same potential energy, different kinetic.
answer 3 Same total energy, but split-up into kinetic and potential is different.
answer 4 Same kinetic, potential and total energy.
none of the above