What are the similarities and differences between an elastic and an inelastic collision?
In both an elastic and inelastic collision momentum is conserved, however in an elastic collision the total kinetic energy is the same before and after the collision. In an inelastic collision kinetic energy is dispersed in the form of heat, sound or deformation. The elasticity of a collision is dependant on the speed of the collision, the angle of incidence and the material the objects are made of. In reality elastic collisions do not exist except between subatomic particles.
HG
Related Physics A Level answers
All answers ▸A cannon ball is shot at an angle of 60 degrees from a cliff of height 50m, if it's inital speed is 20ms^-1 what horizontal distance does it travel before hitting the ground.
An electron is accelerated through a uniform electric field of strength, E= 20 [N/C]. Determine the speed after the the electron travels 0.5 m from rest.
What is the total capacitance of a circuit containing a 3microfarad capacitor and a 2microfarad capacitor in series.
Describe and explain the photoelectric effect in terms of photons interacting with the surface of a metal.