Answer to Question #123929 in Physics for Susan Williams

Question

Distinguish between elastic and inelastic collisions

Answer 1

a)An elastic collision is the collision in which both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. Since the kinetic energy is conserved, the mechanical energy is also conserved and is not converted into another form of the energy. Finally, the conservation of the mechanical energy means that the forces involved in the collision are conservative in nature.

b) An inelastic collision is the collision in which the momentum of the system is conserved but the kinetic energy is not. Since the kinetic energy is not conserved, the mechanical energy also is not conserved and is converted into another form of the energy such as heat. Because the mechanical energy is not conserved, the forces involved in the collision are non-conservative in nature.