Examples of Inelastic Collisions Explained

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🚗 Inelastic collisions are collisions where kinetic energy is not conserved. This means some of the energy is converted into other forms, like heat or sound.
• 🔥 The total momentum of the system is always conserved in collisions (elastic and inelastic), assuming no external forces.
• 🧱 A perfectly inelastic collision is one where the objects stick together after colliding.
• 📐 The coefficient of restitution (e) is 0 for perfectly inelastic collisions.
• ➗ The formula for conservation of momentum is: $m_1v_1 + m_2v_2 = (m_1 + m_2)v_f$ (for perfectly inelastic collisions where objects stick together).

Practice Quiz

1. What is a key characteristic of an inelastic collision?
   1. Kinetic energy is conserved.
   2. Momentum is not conserved.
   3. Kinetic energy is not conserved.
   4. Neither momentum nor kinetic energy is conserved.
2. In an inelastic collision, what happens to the kinetic energy that is lost?
   1. It is converted entirely into potential energy.
   2. It disappears completely.
   3. It is converted into other forms of energy, such as heat and sound.
   4. It increases the mass of the objects.
3. Which of the following is an example of a perfectly inelastic collision?
   1. A rubber ball bouncing off a wall.
   2. Two billiard balls colliding.
   3. A car crash where the cars crumple and stick together.
   4. A bouncy ball bouncing on concrete.
4. What is the coefficient of restitution (e) for a perfectly inelastic collision?
   1. e = 1
   2. e > 0
   3. e = 0
   4. e < 1
5. A 2 kg ball moving at 3 m/s collides perfectly inelastically with a 1 kg ball at rest. What is the final velocity of the combined mass?
   1. 1 m/s
   2. 2 m/s
   3. 3 m/s
   4. 4 m/s
6. Two objects with equal mass collide inelastically. Object A is initially moving at 5 m/s and object B is at rest. After the collision, both objects move together. What is their final velocity?
   1. 0 m/s
   2. 2.5 m/s
   3. 5 m/s
   4. 10 m/s
7. In an inelastic collision, is momentum conserved?
   1. Yes, momentum is always conserved in collisions, assuming no external forces.
   2. No, momentum is never conserved in inelastic collisions.
   3. Momentum is conserved only if the objects stick together.
   4. Momentum is conserved only if the collision is perfectly inelastic.