# Is velocity conserved in elastic and inelastic collisions?

#### seallen

1. Homework Statement

Determine whether velocity is conserved in elastic and inelastic collisions? Use your experimental data to support your results.

2. Homework Equations

I have my data charts which show that velocity is not conserved in inelastic collisions, but in elastic collisions some parts of my data showed velocity was conserved and other parts showed that it was not.

3. The Attempt at a Solution
My thoughts are that velocity is not conserved in inelastic collisions due to some velocity being lost in the kinetic energy. However, I am thinking that in elastic collisions velocity is conserved due to the fact that both momentum and kinetic energy are also conserved. Would this be correct?

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#### Simon Bridge

Homework Helper
I am thinking that in elastic collisions velocity is conserved due to the fact that both momentum and kinetic energy are also conserved. Would this be correct?
in elastic collisions some parts of my data showed velocity was conserved and other parts showed that it was not.
That conclusion would not be consistent with your data. What does your data tell you?

What is different about the situations that could lead to the differing results?

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