Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
A collision occurs when two or more objects come into contact with each other, exerting forces on one another for some period of time. Collisions can result in changes in motion or deformation of the objects involved.
elastic collision: An elastic collision is a type of collision where kinetic energy and momentum are both conserved before and after impact. Objects bounce off each other without losing energy.
inelastic collision: An inelastic collision is a type of collision where kinetic energy is not conserved, but momentum is still conserved. Objects stick together or deform during the collision.
conservation of momentum: Conservation of momentum states that the total momentum of an isolated system remains constant before and after a collision. In other words, the combined momentum of all objects involved does not change.