wing_88 said:
…An inelastic collision is a type of collision between two objects where kinetic energy is not conserved. This means that some of the initial kinetic energy is lost during the collision in the form of heat, sound, or deformation of the objects.
In an inelastic collision, kinetic energy is lost due to the objects' internal forces, such as friction or deformation. These forces dissipate energy in the form of heat or sound, resulting in a decrease in the objects' overall kinetic energy.
A common example of an inelastic collision is a car crash. When two cars collide, their kinetic energy is not conserved, and some of it is lost due to the deformation of the cars' bodies. Another example is a ball hitting the ground, where some of its kinetic energy is lost due to the ball's deformation and the sound it produces.
In an elastic collision, kinetic energy is conserved, meaning that the total kinetic energy of the system remains the same before and after the collision. This is because there is no loss of energy due to internal forces, and the objects bounce off each other without any deformation. In contrast, an inelastic collision involves the loss of kinetic energy, and the objects may stick together or deform after the collision.
Yes, a perfectly inelastic collision is a special case of an inelastic collision where the two objects stick together after the collision and move as one. In this case, all of the initial kinetic energy is lost, and the objects have the same final velocity. An example of this is two clay balls colliding and sticking together.