Inelastic Collision

What is Inelastic Collision?

An inelastic collision is a type of collision in which momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not. During an inelastic collision, the objects typically deform or stick together.

What is a perfectly Inelastic Collision?

Perfectly inelastic collision is a specific type of inelastic collision where the objects stick together after the collision.

Differentiate between Elastic and Inelastic collisions.

The main differences between elastic and inelastic collisions lie in the conservation of kinetic energy and deformation or sticking together of objects. Kinetic energy is conserved for elastic collisions only, and sticking or deformation occurs in inelastic cases only.

Is Momentum Conserved in Inelastic Collision?

Yes, momentum is conserved in an inelastic collision.

Is Kinetic Energy Conserved in Inelastic Collision?

In an inelastic collision, kinetic energy is not conserved. Some kinetic energy is lost and transferred to another object in an inelastic collision. Friction within the system is the cause of this kinetic energy loss.

What are Some Example of Perfectly Inelastic Collision?

Here are a few instances of collisions that are perfectly inelastic: Following an accident, two railway cars stay together. When two balls of clay collide and stick together.



Inelastic Collision

Inelastic Collision is a type of collision where momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not. In such collisions, the colliding objects stick together, and some kinetic energy is transformed into other forms like vibrational energy or heat. This results in a loss of kinetic energy, which may transform into heat, sound, or deformation.

In this article, we will discuss all details related to inelastic collision such as definition, its types, examples, etc.

Similar Reads

Inelastic Collision Definition

An inelastic collision is a type of collision in which momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not. During an inelastic collision, the objects typically deform or stick together. This results in a loss of kinetic energy as some of it is transformed into heat, sound, or deformation....

Types of Inelastic Collision

There are 2 types of inelastic collision:...

Inelastic Collision Examples

The majority of collisions that occur in our daily lives are classified as inelastic collisions. Following is a list of a few of them....

Conservation of Momentum in Inelastic Collision

In an inelastic collision, momentum is conserved. This occurs as a result of the transfer of some kinetic energy to another object....

Inelastic Collision Formula

We can only use momentum conservation as kinetic energy is not conserved. Since they stick together after collision, they move with one final velocity....

Inelastic Collision in One Dimension

In a one-dimensional inelastic collision, some kinetic energy is lost, and the objects cling together afterward. “Perfectly inelastic” is another term used to describe this kind of collision....

Coefficient of Restitution

It is defined as the ratio of relative velocity of separation to relative velocity of approach....

Elastic Collision vs Inelastic Collision

Lets discuss the difference between Elastic collision vs Inelastic Collision...

Conclusion: Inelastic Collision

In collisions, two types exist: elastic and inelastic. Elastic collisions conserve both momentum and kinetic energy, while inelastic collisions conserve momentum only. Perfectly inelastic collisions are a special case where objects stick together after collision. Momentum is conserved in both one-dimensional and two-dimensional inelastic collisions. The coefficient of restitution quantifies energy retention after collision....

Solved Examples

Example 1: Two objects, A and B, with masses m1= 2 kg and m2= 3 kg respectively, collide inelastically. Object A is initially moving to the right with a velocity of v1 = 4m/s, while object B is initially at rest. After the collision, they move together as one mass. Find the final velocity and the coefficient of restitution for this collision....

Practice Problems on Inelastic Collision

Problem 1: A 0.2 kg bullet moving with a velocity of 500m/s collides inelastically with a 0.5 kg wooden block initially at rest on a frictionless surface. After the collision, the bullet and the block move together. Calculate their final velocity....

FAQs on Inelastic Collision

What is Inelastic Collision?...