Final answer:
Physics students learn about two types of collisions: elastic and inelastic. Elastic collisions conserve both momentum and kinetic energy, exemplified by two billiard balls colliding. Inelastic collisions conserve momentum but not kinetic energy, like in car crashes.
Step-by-step explanation:
In physics, you learn about two primary types of collisions: elastic collisions and inelastic collisions. An elastic collision is one in which both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. For example, when two billiard balls collide perfectly and no kinetic energy is converted into other forms of energy like heat or sound, that's an elastic collision. In contrast, an inelastic collision does not conserve kinetic energy, although momentum is still conserved. A typical example of an inelastic collision is a car crash, where the vehicles deform and kinetic energy is partially converted into other forms of energy.
The conservation of momentum principle is fundamental when analyzing collisions, provided no external forces are acting on the system. This principle allows us to calculate the final velocities of colliding objects when we know their initial velocities and masses.
However, knowing whether a collision is elastic or inelastic is crucial because it affects whether kinetic energy is conserved in the collision. For instance, in a two-dimensional collision between a 5.50-kg bowling ball moving at 9.00 m/s and a 0.850-kg bowling pin, you can use these principles to calculate the final velocity of the bowling ball and determine if the collision is elastic.