Kinetic Energy regarding Collision

[rash219]

Homework Statement

In an elastic collision of 2 objects, Kinetic energy is conserved. In an inelastic collision it is not. Where does the kinetic energy "go" in an inelastic collision ?

Homework Equations

None

The Attempt at a Solution

Ok i am not sure of the answer but is it supposed to be that the object with a higher velocity / mass transfers or merges its kinetic energy with the kinetic energy of the one that is lower thereby reducing it to zero...

Please help !

 

[Doc Al]

Ok i am not sure of the answer but is it supposed to be that the object with a higher velocity / mass transfers or merges its kinetic energy with the kinetic energy of the one that is lower thereby reducing it to zero...

Not sure what that means...

Instead, think of what other form of energy that the translational KE might be transformed into by the collision.

 

[rash219]

Collision occurs when 2 objects move towards each other with some force so...

What i was trying to say is the " K.E in case of inelastic collision is lost by means of transfer from a high K.E object to a low K.E object thereby making the low K.E object move in the same direction as that of the high K.E object or in some cases even canceled, zeroed out, in cases where both objects have their K.E equal

 

[Doc Al]

Kinetic energy is not a vector--so it doesn't "cancel out" like momentum might. Instead, it must be transformed into a different sort of energy.

Hint: Smash a lump of clay against a wall. (An example of an inelastic collision.) What happens to the clay? (If you're not sure, imagine doing it one hundred times.) What about it changes?

 

[Jedi_Sawyer]

I think the linear momentum is conserved in an elastic or inelastic collision, Linear momentum and angular momentum, are conserved quanities like energy is. Not sure if linear momentum conservation is the same thing as angular momentum conservation as my Physics Book by Halliday and Resnick avoids the subject.

 

[rash219]

Kinetic energy is not a vector--so it doesn't "cancel out" like momentum might. Instead, it must be transformed into a different sort of energy.

Hint: Smash a lump of clay against a wall. (An example of an inelastic collision.) What happens to the clay? (If you're not sure, imagine doing it one hundred times.) What about it changes?

Well according to your hint and from what i have learned the clay changes its shape and the energy is lost in the form of heat ad sound...

 

[Doc Al]

Now you've got it.