Really simple Python program to simulate inelastic collision

[remote]

I'm trying to write this Python program that simulates a completely inelastic collision between two objects. The program seems to work for the most part, but I'm completely lost on the "heat released" part at the end. I have no idea if I'm calculating this right, or if I'm completely wrong. Can anyone give me some insight?

frameRate = 4000.0
mass = 1.0
velocity = 1.0
distance = 0.0
mass2 = 1.0
velocity2 = 0.0
distance2 = 0.0

maxTime = 50
resistance = 1.0
time = 0.0
print "total kinetic energy:    ", .5 * mass * velocity * velocity + .5 * mass2 * velocity2 * velocity2

#now we collide two objects, and see how long it takes them to reach the same speed
while True:
	distance += velocity / frameRate
	distance2 += velocity2 / frameRate
	velocity2 -= (resistance * (velocity2 - velocity)/ mass2) / frameRate
	velocity -= (resistance * (velocity - velocity2) / mass) / frameRate
	time += 1 / frameRate
	if time > maxTime:
		break
	if velocity <= velocity2 + .01:
		break
print "colliding\n\n"
print "time elapsed:               ", time
print "object 1 distance traveled: ", distance
print "object 2 distance traveled: ", distance2
print "object 1 velocity:          ", velocity
print "object 2 velocity:          ", velocity2
print "heat released:              ", (distance - distance2) * resistance

 

[mfb]

Total energy, the sum of kinetic and thermal energy, is conserved. The released heat is just the difference between initial and final kinetic energy.

 

[remote]

Thanks. That gave me the hint I needed to fix the program.

I'm still a bit confused about how friction works, but I think I can ask about that in another thread.