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Jessibaca
- 5
- 0
What is an elastic collion? I don't understand the difference between elastic, inelastic and explosion collisions.
An elastic collision is a type of collision between two objects where both the total momentum and the total kinetic energy are conserved. This means that after the collision, the objects involved will have the same total momentum and kinetic energy as they did before the collision.
In an inelastic collision, the total kinetic energy of the system is not conserved, meaning that some of the kinetic energy is lost in the form of heat, sound, or deformation of the objects involved. In an elastic collision, there is no loss of kinetic energy.
Some examples of elastic collisions include billiard balls colliding, a rubber ball bouncing off a wall, and two cars colliding on an icy surface without any deformation.
The elasticity of a material determines how much it can deform during a collision. In an elastic collision, the objects involved do not deform, so the elasticity does not affect the outcome. In an inelastic collision, the objects may deform, and the elasticity of the material will determine how much kinetic energy is lost.
No, most collisions in real life are not perfectly elastic. Some kinetic energy is usually lost due to friction and deformation of the objects involved. However, in certain scenarios, such as at the atomic or subatomic level, elastic collisions can occur.