Step 1: Find the total time of fall.
The height of the tower is
\[
h=80\,\text{m}
\]
Since the ball is dropped from rest,
\[
h=\frac{1}{2}gt^2
\]
\[
80=\frac{1}{2}(10)t^2
\]
\[
80=5t^2
\]
\[
t^2=16
\]
\[
t=4\,\text{s}
\]
Thus, the total time of fall is
\[
4\,\text{s}.
\]
Step 2: Find the time taken to fall the first \(40\,\text{m}\).
The last \(50\%\) of the fall corresponds to the last
\[
40\,\text{m}
\]
of the total
\[
80\,\text{m}.
\]
For a displacement of
\[
40\,\text{m},
\]
\[
40=\frac{1}{2}(10)t_1^2
\]
\[
40=5t_1^2
\]
\[
t_1^2=8
\]
\[
t_1=2\sqrt{2}\,\text{s}
\]
Step 3: Determine the time for the last \(40\,\text{m}\).
The ball reaches the halfway point at time
\[
t_1=2\sqrt{2}\,\text{s}.
\]
Hence, the time spent in covering the last \(40\,\text{m}\) is
\[
t_{\text{last}}
=
4-2\sqrt{2}
\]
\[
=4-2(1.414)
\]
\[
=4-2.828
\]
\[
=1.172\,\text{s}
\]
\[
\approx 1.17\,\text{s}
\]
Step 4: Final conclusion.
Therefore, the time required to cover the last \(50\%\) of the fall is
\[
\boxed{1.17\,\text{s}}
\]