Question

Explain the elastic collision.

Answer 1

Elastic Collision

Elastic collision is an ideal collision where there is no loss of energy even after the collision. For example, when two perfect elastic balls collide with each other, if they bounce back with same velocity in opposite direction to that of before collision, then both momentum and kinetic energies are conserved i.e. there is no change in momentum and kinetic energy before and after collision.

Mathematically, the elastic collision can be expressed as given below::

m₁u₁ + m₂u₂ = m₁v₁ + m₂v₂

Where,

• m₁ = Mass of 1st body
• m₂ = Mass of 2nd body
• u₁ =Initial velocity of 1st body
• u₂ = Initial velocity of the second body
• v₁ = Final velocity of the first body
• v₂ = Final velocity of the second body