Elastic and Inelastic Collisions

AI Thread Summary
In collisions, linear momentum is always conserved, regardless of whether the collision is elastic or inelastic. In elastic collisions, both linear momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. In inelastic collisions, while linear momentum is conserved, kinetic energy is not. The confusion arises from misinterpreting the conservation laws, particularly in the context of real-world scenarios like car accidents. Understanding these principles is crucial for correctly answering questions about collision types.
BMWPower06
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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
True False for inelastic collisions, both linear momentum and kinetic energy are conserved
True False for elastic collisions, linear momentum is not conserved but kinetic energy is
True False for elastic collisions, both linear momentum and kinetic energy are conserved
True False for inelastic collisions, linear momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not



The Attempt at a Solution


Answers are in bold, basically this seems really simple i just can't figure out what I am doing wrong. I am applying each one as if it were a car accident and that's what i got. Unfortunately the program doesn't tell me which ones are wrong, only that the answer is wrong, can anyone help me out?

Thanks.
 
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BMWPower06 said:

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
True False for inelastic collisions, both linear momentum and kinetic energy are conserved
True False for elastic collisions, linear momentum is not conserved but kinetic energy is
True False for elastic collisions, both linear momentum and kinetic energy are conserved
True False for inelastic collisions, linear momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not



The Attempt at a Solution


Answers are in bold, basically this seems really simple i just can't figure out what I am doing wrong. I am applying each one as if it were a car accident and that's what i got. Unfortunately the program doesn't tell me which ones are wrong, only that the answer is wrong, can anyone help me out?

Thanks.

Are the bold answers your answers or the supposedly correct ones? because they don't look right to me.

In short: in ALL collisions the momentum is conserved. In eleastic collisions the kinetic energy is also conserved whereas in inelastic collisions the KE is not conserved (but the momentum is still conserved)
 
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