Final answer:
The energy lost in the impact between collars A and B can be calculated using the equation Energy lost = (1/2)mv²(1 - e²), where m is the mass, v is the initial velocity, and e is the coefficient of restitution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The energy lost in the impact between the collars can be determined using the principles of conservation of energy and the coefficient of restitution (e).
The energy lost in the impact is given by the equation: Energy lost = (1/2)mv²(1 - e²), where m is the mass of each collar and v is the initial velocity of collar A.
For example, if the mass of each collar is 2 kg, the initial velocity of collar A is 5 m/s, and the coefficient of restitution between the collars is 0.8, the energy lost in the impact would be: Energy lost = (1/2)(2 kg)(5 m/s)²(1 - 0.8²) = 6 J.