Inelastic Collisions

Definition

Inelastic collisions are collisions between objects where kinetic energy is not conserved. In these types of collisions, some or all of the initial kinetic energy is transformed into other forms of energy such as heat, sound, or deformation.

Related terms

Coefficient of Restitution: A value that measures how "bouncy" a collision is by comparing the relative velocities before and after the collision.

Perfectly Inelastic Collision: A type of inelastic collision where two objects stick together after colliding and move as one mass.

Conservation of Momentum:

The principle that states that the total momentum of a system remains constant if no external forces act on it.