🧲ap physics 2 review

Inelastic Collision

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examWritten by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025

Definition

An inelastic collision is a type of collision where kinetic energy is not conserved. Some or all of the initial kinetic energy is transformed into other forms, such as heat or deformation.

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