Answer to Question #284636 in Physics for wako

Question

in a completely inelastic collision between two objects, where the objects stick together after the collision, is it possible for the final kinetic energy of the system to be zero? if so, give an example in which this would occur. If the final kinetic energy is zero, what must the initial momentum of the system be? is the initial kinetic energy of the system zero? explain

Answer 1

It is possible for the system to have zero kinetic energy in a completely inelastic collision between two objects. An example: two pieces of clay of equal mass moving toward each other and having equal momenta.

If the final kinetic energy is zero, the initial momentum of the system must be zero.

The initial kinetic energy of the system is not zero because energy is a scalar quantity unlike momentum, which is a vector quantity.