Final answer:
In an inelastic collision, momentum is conserved due to the law of conservation of momentum. However, kinetic energy is not conserved because some of it is transformed into other forms of energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
When two objects undergo an inelastic collision, different conservation laws apply to momentum and total energy. In such a collision, linear momentum is always conserved, meaning the total momentum of the system before and after the collision remains the same. This is due to the law of conservation of momentum, which states that in the absence of external forces, the momentum of a system remains constant. However, total kinetic energy is not conserved during an inelastic collision. Some of the kinetic energy is transformed into other forms of energy, such as heat or sound. Therefore, even though the momentum of the system is conserved, the kinetic energy is not.
Applying these principles to the given scenario where two objects of equal mass collide, with one initially at rest and the other moving, after the collision the first object comes to rest and the second moves with an unknown velocity. Since this is an inelastic collision, we can say that momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not. Thus, the correct answer for the scenario described is:
Momentum is conserved, but total energy is not conserved.