Final answer:
An inelastic collision is one in which the objects involved stick together or bounce off with lower velocity and reduced internal kinetic energy. Examples include a billiard ball bouncing off a bumper and skaters colliding in mid-air. During such collisions, kinetic energy is lost.
Step-by-step explanation:
An inelastic collision is one in which the internal kinetic energy changes. In this type of collision, the objects involved may stick together or bounce off each other with a reduced velocity. It is called an inelastic collision because it reduces the internal kinetic energy more than any other type of inelastic collision.
One example of an inelastic collision is when a billiard ball strikes the bumper of a pool table and bounces straight back at a lower velocity. Another example is when a skater leaps into the air and is caught by another skater, causing both of them to move together with a final velocity. In both cases, kinetic energy is lost during the collision.
In the case of the billiard ball, you can calculate the average force exerted on the ball by the bumper and the amount of kinetic energy lost during the collision. In the case of the skaters, you can calculate their final velocity and determine the amount of kinetic energy lost.