An elastic collision is a type of collision in which both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. This means that the total amount of kinetic energy and momentum before the collision is equal to the total amount after the collision.
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Impulse: Impulse refers to change in momentum of an object when a force acts upon it for an interval of time.
Inelastic Collision: In contrast to elastic collisions, inelastic collisions are those where kinetic energy is not conserved, though momentum still is. Some kinetic energy gets converted into other forms like heat or sound during these types of collisions.
Conservation Laws: These laws state that certain physical properties (like mass, energy, or electric charge) remain constant—they are neither created nor destroyed—during chemical reactions or physical interactions. The law of conservation of momentum applies directly to our understanding of elastic collisions.