Final answer:
The energy loss in a collision is the difference between the initial and final kinetic energies of an object; it's calculated by taking the kinetic energies before and after impact.
Step-by-step explanation:
The energy loss in a collision refers to the kinetic energy that is not retained in the objects that collided. To determine the energy loss, we must calculate the kinetic energy before and after the collision and then find the difference. In the case of a 0.240-kg billiard ball hitting the bumper, if it's moving at 3.00 m/s before the collision and bounces back at 2.40 m/s, the energy loss can be calculated using the formula KE = 0.5 × mass × velocity2.
The initial kinetic energy (KEi) is 0.5 × 0.240 kg × (3.00 m/s)2, and the final kinetic energy (KEf) after the collision is 0.5 × 0.240 kg × (2.40 m/s)2. The energy loss is KEi - KEf. To find what percentage of the original energy this loss represents, divide the energy loss by the initial kinetic energy and multiply by 100%.
In a perfectly inelastic collision, objects stick together after the collision and move with a common velocity, resulting in a maximum energy loss as kinetic energy is transformed into other forms like thermal energy and sound. The energy loss is particularly relevant during such collisions in both daily situations and in sports. Therefore, understanding the recoil velocity and loss in kinetic energy in various types of collisions is crucial in physics.
The percentage is found by dividing the energy loss by the initial energy and multiplying by 100%. In perfectly inelastic collisions, objects stick together, converting most kinetic energy into other forms like heat and sound.