What is Inelastic: Definition and 494 Discussions

In economics, elasticity refers to the measurement of a percentage change of one economic variable in response to a change in another.

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  1. C

    Inelastic collision (not homework)

    Note: This is not a homework problem (it is far too advanced for a suitable homework problem). So don't move it to the homework category as that would not lead to interesting replies/attempts to solve this problem. This is simply a discussion problem for everyone here to think about. Consider...
  2. F

    Inelastic collision of railcar

    Ok, the question is the following: "In a railroad switchyard, a 56 ton freight car is sent at 7.0 mi/h toward a 31 ton car that is moving in the same direction at 26 mi/h." - what is the speed of the pair after they couple together? -what fraction of the initial kinetic energy was lost...
  3. S

    Inelastic Collision and Pendulums

    Homework Statement Two 23-cm long pendulums (each made of a massless string and a ball) are initially situated as shown in the figure. The masses of the left and right balls are m1= .145 kg and m2= .200 kg , respectively. The first pendulum is released from a height d= .092 m and strikes...
  4. R

    Partial Inelastic Collision

    [SOLVED] Partial Inelastic Collision Is it ok if I keep this here for my own reference (and others if it helps them)? I don't know why it helps to type everything out before I realize what I did wrong! But looking back on my work seems to reinforce what I learned. Homework Statement As...
  5. H

    Completely Inelastic Collision

    After a completely inelastic collision, two objects of the same mass and same initial speed are found to move away together at 1/3 their initial speed. Find the angle between the initial velocities of the objects. I think that this question is dealing with collisions in two dimensions. My...
  6. W

    Inelastic collision problem - What is the velocity?

    Homework Statement 2 equal masses travel in opposite directions at equal speeds. They collide in a perfectly (inelastic) collision. Just after the collision their velocities are: A)Zero B)equal to their original velocities C)equal in magnitude but opposite in direction of their original...
  7. T

    Conservation of Momentum in an Inelastic Collision

    Homework Statement A bullet of mass m and speed v passes completely through a pendulum bob of mass M. The bullet emerges with a speed of v/2. The pendulum bob is suspended by a stiff rod of length L and negligible mass. What is the minimum value of v such that the pendulum bob will barely...
  8. P

    Kinetic energy of inelastic collision problem

    Homework Statement A particle of mass m1 and velocity u1 collides with a particle of mass m2 at rest. The two particles stick together. What fraction of the original kinetic energy is lost in the collision? Homework Equations Conservation of momentum law The Attempt at a Solution...
  9. I

    Inelastic collision and ideal gas law

    I am not even sure if my question itself is correct. According to ideal gas law, all the collisions for a gas molecules are elastic in nature. Now, suppose a hydrogen atom collides with a neutron (assuming 1-D motion for simplicity), will i consider that collision to be elastic always, or are...
  10. C

    Perfectly inelastic collision (distance)

    Lets say an object with an initial velocity collides with a still object. Collision is perfectly inelastic and the surface is frictionless. How can i know how far it traveled? I solved for the sum of P final = the sum of P initial, but then i don't know how to relate to distance, all i have is...
  11. F

    Inelastic Collision of an object Problem

    A m=1.5 kg object moving at 14 m/s collides with a stationary 2.0 kg object. If the collision is perfectly inelastic, how far along the inclined plane will the combined system travel? Neglect Friction. Any help would be appreciated
  12. C

    Inelastic Collisions and Dissipation of Energy

    Homework Statement Block A of mass, mA = 2.0 kg, is moving on a frictionless surface with a velocity of 5.0 m/s to the right and another block B of mass, mB = 8.0 kg, is moving with a velocity of 3.0 m/s to the left, as shown in the diagram below. The two block eventually collide. d. If...
  13. B

    Completely Inelastic Collision: A block and a block with a spring

    I actually have two problems that I have been struggling with that are very similar, so I believe that I am making the same incorrect assumption for both problems, but I am at that point where I have been re-trying the problems for so long that I do not think I am going to find my mistake...
  14. J

    About perfectly inelastic collision

    [SOLVED] About perfectly inelastic collision I have one problem about prefectly inelastic condition. When I read the reference book, it mentioned that when one object moving with an initial speed u1, and another object is in rest, after collision, if both object moved together as one object...
  15. H

    Ballistic Pendulum: Determining Projectile Velocity Through Energy Conservation

    Homework Statement A ballistic pendulum is a device used to measure the velocity of a projectile. The projectile is shot horizontally into and becomes embedded in the bob of a pendulum as illustrated below. The pendulum swings upward to some height h, which is measured. The mass of the bullet...
  16. H

    Analyzing Inelastic Collisions in 2-D: Solving for Final Velocity and Angle

    Homework Statement A car with mass of 950 kg and speed of 16 m/s approches an intersection in the positive x direction. A 1300-kg minivan traveling at 21m/s is heading towards the same intersection in the positive y direction. The car and minivan collide and stick together. Fine the speed and...
  17. P

    Nuclear Interactions: Inelastic and elastic scattering

    I originally posted this in the homework section until I realized the homework section only covers through undergraduate courses. The course I am currently in is a graduate level Medical Physics course. So if you don't mind, here is the thread I posted in the homework section. I am...
  18. P

    Nuclear Physics Scattering: Elastic, Inelastic etc

    I am preparing for a Nuclear Physics test. One of the homework problems asks the following: Choose the proper neutron interaction type for each of the following scenarios and explain why. Interaction types: elastic, inelastic, (n, \gamma),(n,2n),(n, \alpha). A. 10-MeV neutrons...
  19. P

    Solving Inelastic Collision and Simple Harmonic Motion Problems

    [SOLVED] Inelastic Question HELP! Homework Statement A 0.20 kilogram mass is sliding on a horizontal, frictionless air track with a speed of 3.0 meters per second when it instantaneously hits and sticks to a 1.3 kilogram mass initially at rest on the track. The 1.3 kilogram mass is...
  20. Z

    Inelastic Collision of a Bullet into a Block

    Homework Statement A rifle bullet with mass 8.00g strikes and embeds itself in a block with mass 0.992 kg that rests on a frictionless, horizontal surface and is attached to a coil spring. The impact compresses the spring 15.0 cm. Calibration of the spring shows that a force of 0.750 N is...
  21. O

    Calculating Initial Speed in an Inelastic Collision with Friction

    Homework Statement A drunk driver strikes a parked car. During the collision the cars become entangled and slide to a stop together. The drunk driver's car has a total mass of 742 kg, and the parked car has a total mass of 776 kg. If the cars slide 18 m before coming to rest, how fast was the...
  22. P

    How to calculate distance object traveled in completely inelastic collision?

    Ok, so I have this practice problem: a mass of 5 kg has hit a ball at 8 m/s. The ball it hit has a mass of 7 kg. What is the distance the ball traveled? It's really frustrating when my notes don't go over ANY of this.
  23. P

    Inelastic collision at an angle

    Homework Statement What is the angle theta with respect to north made by the velocity vector of the two cars after the collision? Express your answer in terms of phi. Your answer should contain an inverse trigonometric function. the cars are both of mass m. Homework Equations I already found...
  24. P

    Car crash-completely inelastic collision?

    If a car crashed into a tree, or a head-on collision with another vehicle, the collision would be completely inelastic correct? What would the kinetic energy be converted to? Internal energy?
  25. G

    Inelastic collision energy relationship

    Homework Statement An atom of mass M is initially at rest, in its ground state. A moving (nonrelativistic) electron of mass me collides with the atom. The atom+electron system can exist in an excited state in which the electron is absorbed into the atom. The excited state has an extra...
  26. D

    Inelastic Collision Mass Ratio

    Homework Statement George of the Jungle, with mass m, swings on a light vine hanging from a stationary branch. A second vine of equal length hangs from the same point, and a gorilla of larger mass M swings in the oposite direction on it. Both vines are horizontal when the primates start...
  27. D

    Completely Inelastic Collisions

    Homework Statement A block of mass m1=1.88 kg slides along a frictionless table with a speed of 10.3 m/s. Directly in front of it, and moving in the same direction, is a block m2=4.92 kg moving at 3.27 m/s. A massless spring with a force constant k=1120N/m is attached to the backside of m2...
  28. E

    Completely inelastic collision

    Homework Statement Is it true that a completely inelastic collision can be elastic (i.e. KE could be conserved) such as when you fire a gun at a metal ball at rest and the bullet and the metal ball stick togethor? Isn't completely inelastic somewhat of a misnomer since it implies that the...
  29. K

    Conservation of Momentum in Inelastic Collisions

    Can someone explain to me the vector nature of momentum in a case where two objects collide and stick together?
  30. L

    Momentum, Completely Inelastic Collision

    Homework Statement Your friend has just been in a traffic accident and is trying to negotiate with the insurance company of the other driver to pay for fixing his car. he believes that the other car was speeding and therefore the accident was the other driver's fault. He knows that you...
  31. A

    Inelastic relativistic collision

    A particle with rest mass m_{0} moves at a speed of 0,8c. It's going to collide with a particle with rest mass 3m_{0}. If the latter was standing still before impact and if the collision is completely inelastic, what are the conservation laws valid? What is the final single particle rest mass?
  32. M

    Calculating Velocity and Momentum in Inelastic Collisions

    Putty of mass 5 is compresses a spring with stiffness consonant 3. The spring is stretched and the putty has a completely inelastic collision with another putty of mass 15. How fast and how far do the putties travel? I have no idea how to begin. thanks,,
  33. A

    Inelastic Collision with Friction in car accident

    Homework Statement You are called as an expert witness to analyze the following auto accident: Car B, of mass 2100 kg, was stopped at a red light when it was hit from behind by car A, of mass 1400 kg. The cars locked bumpers during the collision and slid to a stop. Measurements of the skid...
  34. B

    Elastic and Inelastic Collisions

    Homework Statement Which of the following statements are true about elastic and inelastic collisions? True False for elastic collisions, linear momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not True False for inelastic collisions, neither linear momentum nor kinetic energy is conserved...
  35. R

    Inelastic Collisions - conceptual trouble

    Hi there :biggrin: I'm having a bit of a conceptual difficulty regarding the equations for inelastic collisions. Suppose a body of mass M1, moving at initial velocity V1, collides and sticks to another body, mass M2, moving at some other initial velocity V2. They then move together with a...
  36. G

    Perfectly inelastic collision - conceptual - where does the lost KE go?

    Homework Statement This is a conceptual question for a lab. In the lab we used two gliders on a nearly frictionless airtrack on a level surface, with photogates set up to measure the velocities of the two gliders before and after the collisions. The second glider was initially stationary...
  37. F

    Calculating Speed and Distance in an Inelastic Collision

    Forgive the probable incorrect use of words of physics, I'm not used to writing them in english :) Hope you will understand anyway. Object number 1 is moving horizontally (left to right) with Uniform rectilinear motion at the speed of 10.5 m/s. Its mass is 7.5 Kg. The coefficient of dynamic...
  38. J

    Partially inelastic collision

    Homework Statement Two identical objects, each moving at 1m/s but in oposite directions collide partially inelastically in one dimension. Assume the final total kinetic energy is half the intial total value. Calculate the final speed of each object Homework Equations This is my...
  39. D

    Predict Whether Collision will be Elastic or Inelastic

    Homework Statement A mass sits on the end of a spring and is at equilibrium. | | ,---. ___/'''\_ |/\/\/\/\/|_m_|________________()' o_____o '_________________ A car is costing gracefully towards the mass. The car has a semi-rigid rubber tire mounted on...
  40. Amith2006

    Relativistic inelastic collisions

    Homework Statement 1) Two identical bodies, each with rest mass m(o), approach each other with equal velocities u, collide and stick together in a perfectly inelastic collision. Determine the rest mass of the composite body. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution The...
  41. C

    Perfectly Inelastic collisions

    Homework Statement In 1986, four high school students built an electric car that could reach a speed of 106 km/h. The mass of the car was just 60.0 kg. Imagine two of these cars performing in a stunt show. One car travels east with a speed of 106.0 km/h and the other travels west with a...
  42. G

    Inelastic Collision Derivation Help

    http://upload.wikimedia.org/math/5/c/b/5cbdceba601a68315f744dc1c06e9ba7.png" How wxactly has this equation be derived? http://upload.wikimedia.org/math/3/c/5/3c53f3d1c66725053decc7e3e546c32d.png" Can someone help me with the derivation. I can't trace the orgin of the second part od the...
  43. G

    Inelastic Collision Derivation Help

    http://upload.wikimedia.org/math/a/8/a/a8a9e87d40533ad47fadb40725a4a3e5.png" How wxactly has this equation be derived? http://upload.wikimedia.org/math/3/c/5/3c53f3d1c66725053decc7e3e546c32d.png" Can someone help me with the derivation. I can't trace the orgin of the second part od the...
  44. H

    Inelastic collision at an angle with two cars

    almost there-inelastic collision at an angle Two cars, both of mass m, collide and stick together. Prior to the collision, one car had been traveling north at speed 2v, while the second was traveling at speed v at an angle phi south of east. After the collision, the two-car system travels at...
  45. B

    Perfectly inelastic collision

    After a completely inelastic collision, two objects of the same mass and same initial speed move away together at half of their initial speed. (a) Find the angle between the initial velocities of the objects ∑pxi = mvi ∑pxf = 2mvfcosӨ mvi = 2mfvcosӨ ∑pyi= mvi ∑pyf = 2mvfsinӨ...
  46. B

    Inelastic or elastic collision?

    A 4.0 kg firework is tossed onto a hockey rink. As it slides, it explodes into exactly two 2 kg pieces. There is an x-y coordinate system painted under the ice. One part of the exploded firework has velocity 3.0 m/s along the y direction. The other part has a velocity of 5.0 m/s at an angle of...
  47. G

    Inelastic collision of two soccer balls of different masses

    You might or might not have seen the astro blaster. But if you drop two soccer balls (stacked together) you'll notice that the smaller top soccer ball lifts up to great heights. I am researching this phenomenon for my extended essay and would really appreciate it if you guys could provide me...
  48. S

    Velocities involved in partially inelastic collisions

    Imagine that two vehicles traveling on a frictionless surface crash into each other. Vehicle A is traveling due north, vehicle B is traveling due east, they smash into each other, and B skirts off at an angle exactly 60 degrees south of east while A skirts off at an angle exactly 60 degrees...
  49. C

    Elastic and Inelastic Collision explanation

    *** Elastic and Inelastic Collision explanation *** 1) Why energy and momentum are conserved in elastic collision? 2) Why only momentum is conserved in inelastic collision? Why energy is not conserved? Answers: Conservation of momentum is a consequence of Newton's third law. From the...
  50. D

    Solving an Inelastic Collision with a Spring: Maximum Compression

    here is how it goes, A block of mass m_1 = 2.0kg slides along a frictionless table with a speed of 10m/s. Directly in front of it, and moving in the same direction, is a block of mass m_2 = 5.0kg moving at 3.0m/s. A massless spring with a spring constant k=1120N/m is attached to the backside of...
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