- #1
R_moor
- 10
- 0
Homework Statement
The questions showed in the pictures ask me whether the collisions in the drawings could be elastic or inelastic, I am not given any mass, the angles are a little vague but I think B and C are supposed to be π/2 and π respectively. For velocity, I am just given the direction and somewhat the magnitude but no numbers. Also the dot represents where the particles collided.
Homework Equations
Conservation of momentum: P_initial = P_final
Conservation of energy: KE initial = KE energy final + Q
Q is just the energy lost or gained during the collision.
The Attempt at a Solution
So far I think that all of them could be elastic and inelastic as without any information of the initial state of the system I can't know whether we are loosing some kinetic energy or not. The problem is I'm not sure whether my reasoning is correct as I am not sure how can I prove this. Any help to reason out the correct answer would be very appreciated.