Gravity increases as the basketball bounces. The floor adds energy to the bouncing basketball. Energy is transferred from the basketball to the floor. The air inside the basketball is heavier than the surrounding air.
I am hesitating between 4 options to answer the following question, which option should I choose?
Question: A basketball bounces on the gym floor nine times and finally comes to a rest. Which of these best explains why the basketball rises to a lower height each time it bounces?
Possibilities:
- Gravity increases as the basketball bounces.
- The floor adds energy to the bouncing basketball.
- Energy is transferred from the basketball to the floor.
- The air inside the basketball is heavier than the surrounding air.

Energy is transferred from the basketball to the floor.