Where does kinetic energy go when clay balls collide inelastically

[psruler]

Hi, can someone please help me explain this problem,

If a ball that is made of clay is inelastic, how do I justify that using kinetic energy? If inelastic, where does the "lost" energy go in this case?

THANKS!

 

[cookiemonster]

"How do I justify that using kinetic energy?" That using kinetic energy does what?

In the case of clay balls, most of the lost energy goes into deforming the balls.

cookiemonster

 

[psruler]

I wanted to say how to I justify that the clay ball is inelastic using kinetic energy?

 

[cookiemonster]

An elastic collision is defined to be a collision in which kinetic energy is conserved.

An inelastic collision is defined to be a collision in which kinetic energy is not conserved.

cookiemonster

 

[psruler]

thanks cookiemonster!