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TwinGemini14
Mar18-09, 01:21 PM
It is not possible for a system to lose all of its kinetic energy in a collision.

A) True
B) False

This question seems really tricky, but I believe the answer to be A: true. Even if two identical masses are approaching eachother head-on at the same velocity (two billiard balls), when they collide they bounce off each other and continue with KE. Is this right?

LowlyPion
Mar18-09, 01:42 PM
It is not possible for a system to lose all of its kinetic energy in a collision.

A) True
B) False

This question seems really tricky, but I believe the answer to be A: true. Even if two identical masses are approaching eachother head-on at the same velocity (two billiard balls), when they collide they bounce off each other and continue with KE. Is this right?

That is true for elastic collisions.

What about inelastic collisions - say 2 equal balls of damp clay that deform and stick together?