An inelastic collision is a type of collision where kinetic energy is not conserved. This means that the total amount of energy before the collision is not equal to the total amount of energy after the collision.
In an elastic collision, kinetic energy is conserved, meaning that the total amount of energy before and after the collision is equal. In an inelastic collision, kinetic energy is not conserved and some of the energy is lost in the form of heat or sound.
The degree of inelasticity in a collision can be affected by factors such as the materials involved, the speed and angle of the collision, and the presence of external forces like friction or air resistance.
In an inelastic collision, momentum is still conserved, meaning that the total momentum before and after the collision is equal. However, the objects involved may have different velocities after the collision due to the transfer of kinetic energy.
Some real-life examples of inelastic collisions include car crashes, where the energy of the moving car is transferred to the stationary object it collides with, and a golf club hitting a golf ball, where some of the energy is lost in the form of sound and heat. Another example is two objects colliding and sticking together, such as when two pieces of clay are smashed together.