How can inelastic collision actually have conserved momentum.

Thread starter student34
Start date Jan 9, 2013
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Collision Inelastic Inelastic collision Momentum

In summary, momentum is conserved in an inelastic collision due to the total mass and velocity of the system remaining the same before and after the collision. However, kinetic energy decreases in an inelastic collision due to the conversion of some of the energy into other forms, such as heat and sound. This is also true for perfectly inelastic collisions, although all of the kinetic energy is converted. In an inelastic collision between objects of different masses, momentum is still conserved but the less massive object will experience a greater change in velocity. The coefficient of restitution is less than 1 in an inelastic collision because the objects deform and lose some of their initial kinetic energy, resulting in a lower value for the measure of elasticity.

Jan 9, 2013

student34

When heat and acoustic energy are radiated from the system, doesn't this mean that the mass must have decreased as we know E = mc^2? I must be wrong, but I can't see where.