As the ball is falling, its kinetic energy is increasing. Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. The formula for kinetic energy is given by:
Kinetic energy (KE) = 1/2 * mass * velocity^2
When the ball is falling, gravitational force is acting on it, causing it to accelerate. As the ball accelerates and its velocity increases, its kinetic energy also increases.
To calculate the exact kinetic energy at any given moment, you would need to know the mass of the ball and its velocity. The mass can be measured, while the velocity can be determined by measuring the ball's speed using appropriate instruments, such as a radar gun or motion sensors. Once you have the mass and velocity, you can plug them into the kinetic energy formula to calculate the value.
It's worth noting that as the ball falls, it also encounters air resistance, which opposes its motion and can slightly affect the actual value of kinetic energy. However, in most scenarios, the effect of air resistance on a falling object's kinetic energy is negligible.