Elastic and Inelastic Collisions

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on the principles of elastic and inelastic collisions in physics. It establishes that in all collisions, linear momentum is conserved. In elastic collisions, both linear momentum and kinetic energy are conserved, while inelastic collisions conserve linear momentum but not kinetic energy. The confusion arises from misapplying these principles to real-world scenarios, such as car accidents, which may lead to incorrect interpretations of the conservation laws.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics concepts, specifically conservation laws.
  • Familiarity with the definitions of elastic and inelastic collisions.
  • Knowledge of kinetic energy and linear momentum equations.
  • Ability to analyze collision scenarios in physics problems.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the mathematical definitions of elastic and inelastic collisions.
  • Learn about momentum conservation in various collision types.
  • Explore real-world applications of collision theory in automotive safety.
  • Review examples of elastic and inelastic collisions in physics textbooks.
USEFUL FOR

Students studying physics, educators teaching collision concepts, and anyone interested in understanding the mechanics of motion and energy conservation in collisions.

BMWPower06
Messages
92
Reaction score
0

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.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
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)
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 47 ·
2
Replies
47
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 41 ·
2
Replies
41
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
4K
Replies
25
Views
2K