Question

If the total kinetic energy for a system is the same before and after the collision, we say that kinetic energy is conserved. If kinetic were conserved, what would be the ratio of the total kinetic energy after the collision to the total kinetic energy before the collision?

Answer 1

In an elastic collision where kinetic energy is conserved, the ratio of kinetic energy post-collision to pre-collision is 1:1. Total momentum and kinetic energy remain unchanged over time.

Step-by-step explanation:

If kinetic energy is conserved during a collision, the ratio of the total kinetic energy after the collision to the total kinetic energy before the collision would be 1:1, meaning no kinetic energy was lost in the process. This is characteristic of an elastic collision.

In the case of an elastic collision where kinetic energy is conserved, a graph of total momentum vs. time would show a constant value, indicating that total momentum remains unchanged. On the other hand, a graph of total kinetic energy vs. time would also be a horizontal line at the initial kinetic energy level, reflecting that kinetic energy has not changed over time due to the collision.