Conserved Properties:
* Mass: The ball's mass remains constant.
* Momentum: The ball's momentum, which is the product of its mass and velocity, is conserved in the absence of external forces.
* Energy: The total mechanical energy of the ball (sum of potential and kinetic energy) remains constant. This is because no work is being done by non-conservative forces like air resistance.
* Angular Momentum: If the ball is spinning, its angular momentum (a measure of its rotational inertia) remains constant.
Not Conserved Properties:
* Velocity: The ball's velocity increases as it falls due to gravity.
* Kinetic Energy: The ball's kinetic energy increases as its velocity increases.
* Potential Energy: The ball's potential energy decreases as it falls.
Why These Properties Are Conserved:
* Vacuum: The absence of air resistance means no external force is acting on the ball to change its motion.
* Gravity: Gravity acts as a conservative force, meaning it doesn't dissipate energy. It simply converts potential energy into kinetic energy.
Important Note: In reality, a falling ball in the atmosphere will experience air resistance, which is a non-conservative force. This will cause the ball's energy to decrease and its velocity to eventually reach a terminal velocity.
