Question

What is a collision in which colliding objects rebound without lasting deformation or the generation of heat?

1) Elastic collision
2) Inelastic collision
3) Perfectly inelastic collision
4) Completely elastic collision

Answer 1

An elastic collision is a collision in which colliding objects rebound without lasting deformation or the generation of heat. It is characterized by the conservation of both momentum and kinetic energy. In a perfectly elastic collision, the objects retain their original shape and kinetic energy before and after the collision.

Step-by-step explanation:

An elastic collision is a collision in which colliding objects rebound without lasting deformation or the generation of heat. In this type of collision, the objects retain their original shape and kinetic energy before and after the collision. It is characterized by the conservation of both momentum and kinetic energy.

For example, consider two billiard balls colliding on a table. If the collision is perfectly elastic, the balls will rebound off each other with the same speed but in opposite directions. No energy is lost to heat or deformation, and the total kinetic energy of the system remains constant throughout the collision.

On the other hand, in a perfectly inelastic collision, the colliding objects stick together after the collision. This type of collision results in a loss of kinetic energy due to deformation and the generation of heat. The objects move as a single mass with a common final velocity.