Question

What is an elastic collision?

a) Collision with energy loss.
b) Collision with no energy loss.
c) Collision with momentum loss.
d) Collision with momentum gain.

Answer 1

An elastic collision is one in which both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. Objects that collide elastically separate and retain their internal kinetic energy, which differs from an inelastic collision where kinetic energy is not conserved.

Step-by-step explanation:
An elastic collision is one in which the colliding objects do not lose any of their internal kinetic energy after impact. Instead, they separate after the collision and retain their kinetic energy. Conversely, an inelastic collision involves objects that either stick together after impact or lose some of their kinetic energy. Both types of collisions generally conserve momentum, but only elastic collisions conserve kinetic energy.

Key Characteristics of an Elastic Collision

• Momentum is conserved.
• Internal kinetic energy is conserved.
• The objects separate after colliding rather than sticking together.

Understanding elastic and inelastic collisions is vital in many physics problems involving two-body systems, motion, and conservation laws.