Final answer:
The change in kinetic energy of a system during a collision is found using the conservation of momentum and the work-energy theorem. The kinetic energy of each mass before the collision is compared to the kinetic energy of the combined mass after the collision to calculate the change.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the change in kinetic energy of the system as a result of a collision, one can apply the principles of conservation of momentum and the work-energy theorem. Since the two objects stick together after the collision, the situation represents a perfectly inelastic collision. The initial and final kinetic energies can be calculated using the formula KE = 0.5 × m × v² where m is the mass and v is the velocity.
For example, in a scenario where a 2.0 kg mass moving at 15 m/s collides with a 5.0 kg mass initially at rest and they stick together, the change in kinetic energy can be calculated as follows:
- Initial kinetic energy of mass A: KEAinitial = 0.5 × 2.0 kg × (15 m/s)² = 225 J
- The momentum is conserved, so the final velocity vfinal of the combined mass can be determined using mA × vAinitial + mB × vBinitial = (mA + mB) × vfinal.
- Final kinetic energy of the combined mass: KEfinal = 0.5 × (2.0 kg + 5.0 kg) × vfinal²
- The change in kinetic energy is ΔKE = KEfinal - KEAinitial.
In the above example, assuming the final velocity calculated was 4.286 m/s, the final kinetic energy would be 64 J and the change in kinetic energy is -161 J (indicating a loss).