Question

Which of the following is closest to a perfectly elastic impact?

A.modeling clay dropped on a hard surface
B.modeling clay dropped on a trampoline
C.superball dropped on a hard surface
D.superball dropped on a trampoline

Answer 1

An inelastic collision is when a rubber ball dropped from a fixed height loses kinetic energy to other forms like heat or sound, only rebounding to 90% of its height. A perfectly elastic impact, such as a superball on a trampoline, would retain all kinetic energy, with the ball reaching its original height.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scenario of a rubber ball being dropped from a height and only reaching 90% of its original height after bouncing off a hard floor is a demonstration of an inelastic collision or impact, not a perfectly elastic one. During such a collision, some of the ball's kinetic energy is converted into other forms of energy, such as thermal energy, sound, and energy absorbed by the deformation of the ball and the floor. This conversion explains the loss of kinetic energy during the collision.

To address the original question, the closest example of a perfectly elastic impact, such as a superball dropped on a trampoline, would show the ball rebounding to its original height or very close to it. A perfectly elastic collision is an idealized scenario where no kinetic energy is lost in the process, meaning all the kinetic energy before the collision is retained after the collision.