What's the difference between elastic and inelastic collisions ?
Well it all depends on how the energy of the moving objects is transfered during the collision. In a elastic collision, first the objects are moving toward each other with both a certain kinetic energy, then they collide, and when they rebound, all the kinetic energy is still there, except it might be reparted differently between the two. Pool balls typically collide in elastic collisions.
For inelastic collisions, the kinetic energy is not only going to be transfered, it's also going to be transformed. For example if one of the object is deformed during the collision, it requires some energy. That energy is no longer kinetic energy, so the total kinetic energy of the system has gone down. It means that we can't use conservation of kinetic energy to solve the problem
Related Physics GCSE answers
All answers ▸When the current through an ohmic conductor is 2A, the potential difference across it is 6V. What is the potential difference across the same ohmic conductor when the current is increased to 3A?
Assuming no friction, describe the motion of a simple pendulum released from rest at t=0 at amplitude A? Provide information about its speed and position at characteristic times during one period. [The 1D equation of motion is described by a cosine]
Circut is arranged in a loop, with resistor (5 ohm), power source(2V), resistor (3 ohm), and another power source (3V) connected subsequently. What is the voltage on 5ohm resistor?
A car travelling at 14 m/s has to make an emergency stop so applies the brakes and it takes 1.5s to become stationary. What distance has the van travelled in that time?