Mechanical Collision: Measuring Sound & Heat

[Lukeblackhill]

Morning!

My question is this: If we consider a situation of mechanical collision, in the real world we shall observe certain loss of energy into heat or sound. Can we find mathematical equations to measure the amount of sound or heat produced using only mechanical variables, such as mass, speed, etc, considering such sound and heat were produced by an mechanical collision?

Thank you!

Cheers.

 

[mfb]

You need some material constants, their shape and so on. In general this is a difficult problem.

 

[jbriggs444]

Energy is conserved. If the collision is perfectly inelastic, one can know how much kinetic energy has disappeared. That energy has to go someplace. The hard part is determining how much goes into heat, how much into sound and how much into permanent deformation or other results. (i.e. what @Wrichik Basu said)

 

[Lukeblackhill]

But in principle, would it be possible to arrange mechanical variables such as mass and speed to define heat, sound, etc?

 

[jbriggs444]

But in principle, would it be possible to arrange mechanical variables such as mass and speed to define heat, sound, etc?

One can define a quantity of heat in terms of the associated energy. 4.2 Joules per calorie if I remember my high school chemistry. Same for sound -- though it it does not take much energy to make a loud sound. And it does not help distinguish between a clank, a crash, a thud, a ding or a gong.

 

[Lukeblackhill]

One can define a quantity of heat in terms of the associated energy. 4.2 Joules per calorie if I remember my high school chemistry. Same for sound -- though it it does not take much energy to make a loud sound. And it does not help distinguish between a clank, a crash, a thud, a ding or a gong.

Thank you @jbriggs444 , that was enlightening.