What is Inelastic collision: Definition and 333 Discussions

An inelastic collision, in contrast to an elastic collision, is a collision in which kinetic energy is not conserved due to the action of internal friction.
In collisions of macroscopic bodies, some kinetic energy is turned into vibrational energy of the atoms, causing a heating effect, and the bodies are deformed.
The molecules of a gas or liquid rarely experience perfectly elastic collisions because kinetic energy is exchanged between the molecules' translational motion and their internal degrees of freedom with each collision. At any one instant, half the collisions are – to a varying extent – inelastic (the pair possesses less kinetic energy after the collision than before), and half could be described as “super-elastic” (possessing more kinetic energy after the collision than before). Averaged across an entire sample, molecular collisions are elastic.Although inelastic collisions do not conserve kinetic energy, they do obey conservation of momentum. Simple ballistic pendulum problems obey the conservation of kinetic energy only when the block swings to its largest angle.
In nuclear physics, an inelastic collision is one in which the incoming particle causes the nucleus it strikes to become excited or to break up. Deep inelastic scattering is a method of probing the structure of subatomic particles in much the same way as Rutherford probed the inside of the atom (see Rutherford scattering). Such experiments were performed on protons in the late 1960s using high-energy electrons at the Stanford Linear Accelerator (SLAC). As in Rutherford scattering, deep inelastic scattering of electrons by proton targets revealed that most of the incident electrons interact very little and pass straight through, with only a small number bouncing back. This indicates that the charge in the proton is concentrated in small lumps, reminiscent of Rutherford's discovery that the positive charge in an atom is concentrated at the nucleus. However, in the case of the proton, the evidence suggested three distinct concentrations of charge (quarks) and not one.

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  1. X

    Inelastic Collision: Kinetic Energy vs Momentum

    In an inelastic collision is the change in kinetic energy equal to the difference of final and initial momentum if one of the objects is initially at rest? For example: m1v = (m1+m2)Vf -----> 0 = (m1+m2)Vf - m1v1 1/2(m1+m2)Vf^2 - 1/2m1v^2 = (m1+m2)Vf - m1v1 Or totally wrong? Thanks!
  2. UMath1

    Momentum conservation inelastic collection

    If a car crashes with a stationary tree and comes to stop, we could say that the kinetic energy of the car was converted to heat and that the collision was inelastic. However, conservation of momentum dictates that momentum is still conserved. How would that be possible given that neither the...
  3. marsupial

    Calculate the impulse exerted after an inelastic collision

    Homework Statement A block A of mass m traveling with speed v collides head-on with a stationary body B of mass 2m. The two bodies stick together. Calculate the impulse exerted by body B on body A during the collision. Homework Equations ## J = p_{final} - p_{initial} ## ## p_{initial} =...
  4. JayaSuria

    Inelastic Collision - Kinetic Energy

    A 6.0kg metal ball moving at 4.0m/s hits a 6.0kg clay ball at rest and sticks to it. The two move at 2.0m/s. a. calculate the kinetic energy of the metal ball before it hits the clay ball. b. calculate the kinetic energy of the metal ball after it hits the clay ball. c. calculate the kinetic...
  5. Freemann

    How to calculate/get info about inelastic scattered neutron?

    I have been researching in the Forum, but I did not see anything conclusive about this: sorry if that was posted anywhere else here, I am new here :smile:. The energy loss of a neutron after an elastic scattering is a pretty straightforward calculation that can be done by hand. However, I am...
  6. X

    Momentum with Two Carts on a Low-Friction Track

    Homework Statement A student runs an experiment with two carts on a low-friction track. As measured in the Earth reference frame, cart 1 (m = 0.48 kg ) moves from left to right at 1.0 m/s as the student walks along next to it at the same velocity. Let the +x direction be to the right. A. What...
  7. M

    Elastic and inelastic collisions

    Homework Statement A low-energy particle collides elastically with a stationary particle of the same mass. The angle between the subsequent paths of both particles are 90 degrees. But when a high-energy proton collides with a stationary proton, the angle between the two paths is not 90 degrees...
  8. J

    Physics displacement velocity mass elastic/inelastic help

    NO TEMPLATE BECAUSE THREAD WAS STARTED IN WRONG FORUM A wrecking ball is a heavy steel ball, usually hung from a crane that is used for demolishing large buildings. Suppose we had a crane with a wrecking ball with a mass of m1 = 12,000 lbs. The crane produces a displacement on the ball of a...
  9. P

    Velocity and Direction of a System after Inelastic Collision

    Homework Statement A hockey player with a mass of 30.0-kg is initially moving 2.00-m/s to the right. He catches on the stick a puck initially moving at 35.0-m/s at an angle of 60 degrees. The puck's mass is .18 kg and the player and puck form a single object for a few seconds. (A) Determine the...
  10. Karan Punjabi

    Inelastic collision and momentum

    Guys, I'm confused that how momentum is conserved when kinetic energy is lost?...I know this question is asked by many people and i searched for it but I'm not getting the reason. Here i have sent two photos which shows that momentum is not conserved from www.simbucket.com. If I am wrong at any...
  11. R

    Inelastic collision of a cannonball

    Homework Statement Homework Equations Total initial momentum = total final momentum Momentum = m*v Kinetic energy = 1/2 * m * v2 The Attempt at a Solution What I found so far: m1v1i = (m1+m2)vf Total kinetic energy = 1/2 * (m1 + m2)vf2 - 1/2 * m1 * v1i2 I am confused on how friction comes...
  12. T

    Inelastic Collision and kinetic energy?

    Homework Statement A piece of taffy slams into and sticks to another identical piece of taffy that is at rest. The momentum of the two pieces stuck together after the collision is the same as it was before the collision, but this is not true of the kinetic energy, which is partly turned into...
  13. C

    Inelastic collision in two dimensions

    I am a programmer trying to simulate some 2D balls bouncing about and colliding with each other. I have both the ball's velocity components before the collision and I am trying to solve for them. I went to wikipedia to find a formula to satisfy my needs and ran into this section...
  14. M

    Elastic and inelastic collisions

    Homework Statement In a closed system, in an inelastic collision, momentum and total energy is conserved, but total kinetic energy is not. But how is this possible? If we have a change in total kinetic energy, we have a change in velocity, and so we must have a change in momentum as...
  15. Lizette Delbosque

    Collision Investigation (2-D)

    Homework Statement I apologize in advance because this is a long question. This is a scenario based question where I role play as an intern for the Montreal Police Collision Investigation Unit. Basically I have to determine the initial velocity of vehicles to determine whether or not they are...
  16. Negus

    Speeds regarding 2D inelastic collision

    Homework Statement You are called to the site of a collision between a small car and a half ton truck on a lonely country road. You are given the following information: a) On clean dry pavement at a temperature of 20 C, the coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.600 on locked wheels. b)...
  17. N

    Momentum conservation in perfectly inelastic collision

    Dear Experts, Total momentum of a system is said to be conserved in perfectly inelastic collisions also. I have a slight problem trying to comprehend a simple example regarding the same. If a small mass 'm' , say a ball is thrown at a huge stationary mass 'M' , say a wall. If the collision is...
  18. Mr Davis 97

    Inelastic collision for equal masses

    Assume that we have two equal masses that collide horizontally, where one is initially at rest. From the conservation of linear momentum, we have ##P_0 = P## ##mv_{10} = mv_{1} + mv_{2}## ##v_{10} = v_{1} + v_{2}## Assuming we have an initial velocity, it would seem as though the final velocity...
  19. R

    Inelastic Collision of drunken driver

    Homework Statement A drunken driver crashes his car into a parked car that has its brakes set. The two cars move off together (perfectly inelastic collision), with the locked wheels of the parked car leaving skid marks 8.0 m in length. If the mass of the moving car is 2290kg and the mass of...
  20. C

    Prove inelastic collision loses the most KE?

    Homework Statement Prove that inelastic collisions have the most KE loss of any type of collision (i.e. partially inelastic and elastic are the others)[/B]Homework Equations m1v1+ m2v2= (m1+m2)Vf The Attempt at a Solution I have solved for Vf in that Vf=(m1v1+m2v2)/(m1+m2), but I am totally...
  21. X

    Proof of KE loss in inelastic collision

    Homework Statement Prove that a perfectly inelastic collision loses more kinetic energy than a partially inelastic collision. Given: $$m_1, m_2, v_{1i}, v_{2i}, v_{1f}, v_{2f}$$ Homework Equations $$KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$$ The Attempt at a Solution From conservation of momentum...
  22. A

    Kinetic energy of 2 cart system

    Homework Statement On cart with a mass of 371 kg and another cart with a mass of 495 kg are rolling toward each other. Just before they collide, the 495 kg cart has a speed of 2.09 m/s, and the 371 kg cart has a speed of 1.90 m/s. We will consider the friction between the cart wheels and track...
  23. P

    Inelastic collision Two angles and final velocities

    Homework Statement Consider an inelastic collision between two blocks on a horizontal plane. Block M1 is moving with velocity Vo and collides with block M2 which is at rest. During the collision a fraction Q of the original kinetic energy is lost. It is observed that M1 is deflected by an angle...
  24. M

    Momentum and Kinetic Energy after an Inelastic Collision

    Homework Statement A small bullet is fired into a large piece of wood. After the bullet penetrates the wood, the assembly moves as one unit along a low-friction track in the direction of travel of the bullet. A. After the bullet is stuck in the piece of wood, is the momentum of the wood (not...
  25. M

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    Homework Statement You are driving your 1000-kg car at a velocity of(25 m/s )ι^ when a 9.0-g bug splatters on your windshield. Before the collision, the bug was traveling at a velocity of (-1.5 m/s )ι^. What is the change in velocity of the car due to its encounter with the bug? Homework...
  26. oreo

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    Homework Statement A 2.9 ton weight falling through a distance of 6.5 ft drives a 0.5 ton pile 1.5 in. into the ground A) Assuming that the weight-pile collision is completely inelastic, find the average force of resistance exerted by ground B) Assuming that the resistive force in (A) remains...
  27. Samei

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    Homework Statement : [/B]I asked a question on this topic before, but I want to make sure I know the material well. So, I looked up another question similar to it (and a little more complex) to check my understanding. Here is the practice problem: A board with mass M, when placed into a coil...
  28. K

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    Homework Statement a bullet has mass=0.01kg velocity=150m/s, you have a cylinder with 5.0m^3 of air at STP with a piston at one end that has mass=0.1kg and surface area of 10cm^3 and is at rest. The bullet strikes and embeds itself into the piston. The system is to be considered adiabatic after...
  29. L

    Inelastic collision of plane onto a barge? (challenging)

    Homework Statement A 1000 kg plane is trying to land on the deck of a 2000 kg barge at rest on the surface of the sea. The only frictional force to consider is between the plane’s wheels and the deck, and this braking force is constant and equal to one-quarter of the plane’s weight. What must...
  30. J-dizzal

    One dimensional inelastic collision; bullet through block.

    Homework Statement In the figure here, a 12.8 g bullet moving directly upward at 930 m/s strikes and passes through the center of mass of a 8.3 kg block initially at rest. The bullet emerges from the block moving directly upward at 520 m/s. To what maximum height does the block then rise above...
  31. A

    What happens to energy in a complete inelastic collision?

    Could be a stupid question. But in case of complete inelastic collision, when one particle is at rest and other one collides with it and both move together, I made calculations(pretty simple ones), the conservation of linear momentum and conservation of kinetic energy give different results. Can...
  32. radiantvibe

    Two Blocks Inelastic Collision with Spring

    Homework Statement A solid block of mass m2 = 8.1 kg, at rest on a horizontal frictionless surface, is connected to a relaxed spring. The other end of the spring is fixed, and the spring constant is k = 230 N/m. Another solid block of mass m1 = 4.0 kg and speed v1 = 5.1 m/s collides with the...
  33. L

    Inelastic collision affecting periodic motion

    Homework Statement A block os mass m is attached to a horizontal spring, which is attached to a wall. The block is oscillating without friction with initiation amplitude A0 and maximum velocity v0. When the block is at its maximum amplitude (and therefore instantaneously at rest), is it struck...
  34. E

    2D Collision of 3 Billiard Balls

    Homework Statement A 500 g billiard ball is going at 10 m/s [E] when it impacts 2 other identical billiard balls. Afterwards, you observe 2 of the balls moving at 2 m/s [30 W of S] and 3 m/s[45 N of E] respectively. Calculate the Energy lost in the collision. Homework Equations KE = 1/2mv^2...
  35. W

    Inelastic collision problem

    A bullet is fired directly into a wood block (along the x-axis), which rests on a rough table. The bullet embeds itself in the block. (This is an inelastic collision: the block deforms and the block and bullet heat up as a result of the collision). a) If the bullet has a mass 0.049kg and is...
  36. Paradox101

    LASER Operating At A Certain Frequency

    Q. A LASER is operating at a frequency f = 6.1*10^14 Hz. A)Calculate the momentum of the photon emitted by the laser. B)A helium atom flies towards the laser at a speed of v = 3.5 m/s.During one laser pulse the gold atom absorbs on average 5 photons.Find the speed the helium atom after one laser...
  37. maxhersch

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    Homework Statement A uniform disk of radius R=1m rotates counterclockwise with angular velocity ω=2rads/s about a fixed perpendicular axle passing through its center. The rotational inertia of the disk relative to this axis is I=9kg⋅m2. A small ball of mass m=1 is launched with speed v=4m/s in...
  38. G

    Inelastic collision problem

    Homework Statement I am doing this project and it asks me for the before and after velocity of a inelastic collision. Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I have found the before velocity of both object which is 0 and 15 m/s, however i am trying to find the after velocities right now...
  39. H

    Inelastic Collision HW Problem

    Homework Statement Pete got into into a car accident and collided with another vehicle, which resulted in the death of the second vehicles passenger, David. Whether Pete was speeding or not determines if he goes to jail. The speed limit where he got into the accident was 45mph. How fast was...
  40. J

    Initial Velocity of Second Rail Car in Inelastic Collision

    Homework Statement A Rail car with a mass= 27000kg's moving at 4m/s collides with another rail car with mass 80,000kg that was moving towards the first. After the collision, both cars come to a complete stop, what was the initial speed of the second rail car? Homework Equations...
  41. C

    Inelastic Collision Energy loss

    Homework Statement Two particles are in a perfectly inelastic collision with no external force acting on them. Particle 1 has m1 and v1>0. Particle 2 has mass m2 and v2<0. Find the loss in kinetic energy after the collision. Express your answer in reduced mass as well as relative velocity...
  42. T

    Calculating Impact Force of a Schmidt Hammer

    Hi! I have apparently forgotten way too much college physics, and could really use some help here. I'm trying to calculate the impact force of an instrument (a Schmidt hammer--uses a spring-loaded piston) that produces an impulse against a surface. The instrument registers a rebound value (which...
  43. P

    Help please inelastic collision

    Homework Statement A railway carriage with a mass m = 2.05×104 kg is initially traveling to the left with a speed Vi = 3.24 m/s. It collides and couples with (get stuck to) two identical railway carriages move to the left with a speed of Ui = 2.36 m/s. What is the speed of the railway...
  44. I

    Inelastic Collision Scenario Question

    Homework Statement A railway carriage with a mass m = 2.45×104 kg is initially traveling to the left with a speed Vi = 3.33 m/s. It collides and couples with (get stuck to) two identical railway carriages move to the left with a speed of Ui = 1.69 m/s. 1. What is the speed of the...
  45. P

    How can momentum be conserved in an inelastic collision?

    Say I drop a ball of mass 5kg from a height of 2 meters, assuming no air resistance, it will hit the ground with a velocity of 6.26m/s and collide with the ground, and rebound. From the law of conservation of momentum, 6.26 * 5 = v * 5, where v is the new velocity of the ball. But if the ball...
  46. Greg Bernhardt

    What is inelastic collision

    Definition/Summary A collision is said to be inelastic if the total kinetic energy of all the bodies involved in the collision changes. So conservation of kinetic energy does not apply. But conservation of momentum, and of angular momentum, does apply to all unrestrained collisions...
  47. Nathanael

    Why is this inelastic collision problem solvable?

    This problem comes from the inelastic collision section. Homework Statement "In Fig. 9-63, block 1 (mass 2.0 kg) is moving rightward at 10 m/s and block 2 (mass 5.0 kg) is moving rightward at 3.0 m/s. The surface is frictionless, and a spring with a spring constant of 1120 N/m is fixed to...
  48. powerof

    Change in temperature after an inelastic collision

    Homework Statement We have a sphere of mass M=0.75 Kg hung from the ceiling by a massless tense cord. Said sphere is hit by a projectile/bullet of mass m=0.015 Kg with velocity v_{0}=300 m/s and they are stuck together (inelastic collision). Find the height the (projectile+sphere) object...
  49. T

    Inelastic collision of two particles

    Homework Statement After a completely inelastic collision, two particles of the same mass m and same initial speed v are found to move away together with the speed (2/3)v. Find the angle between the initial velocity vectors of the objects. The Attempt at a Solution It is completely...
  50. M

    Good luck, and let me know if you run into any more problems!

    Homework Statement https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/603671_1409914319284787_3441607163537875560_n.jpg Homework Equations conservation of total momentum M1V1+M2V2 = MtotVf The Attempt at a Solution I tried using the COTM as such: x...
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