Total kinetic energy in a collision refers to the sum of the kinetic energy of all objects involved in the collision. It takes into account the mass and velocity of each object and is a measure of the overall energy transferred during the collision.
Total kinetic energy can be calculated using the formula KE = 1/2 * m * v^2, where m is the mass of the object and v is its velocity. The total kinetic energy is the sum of the kinetic energy of each object before and after the collision.
A front collision, also known as a head-on collision, occurs when two objects collide directly into each other. A back collision, also known as a rear-end collision, occurs when one object collides into the back of another object. The direction of the objects' motion and the point of impact are different in these two types of collisions.
In a perfectly elastic collision, the total kinetic energy remains the same before and after the collision. This means that the kinetic energy is conserved and no energy is lost during the collision. The objects involved will exchange energy, but the total amount will remain constant.
The coefficient of restitution is a measure of how much kinetic energy is conserved in a collision. A higher coefficient of restitution indicates a more elastic collision, where the objects involved will bounce off each other and the total kinetic energy will remain the same. A lower coefficient of restitution indicates a more inelastic collision, where some of the kinetic energy is lost and the total kinetic energy will decrease.