Perfectly Inelastic Collisions

Definition

When two objects collide and stick together after the collision, creating a single object with combined momentum. Energy is not conserved in perfectly inelastic collisions.

Related terms

Elastic Collisions:

A type of collision where both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved.

Conservation of Momentum:

The principle that states that the total momentum before a collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision.

Kinetic Energy:

The energy possessed by an object due to its motion.