Republic of the Philippine

Mindanao State University – Sulu

Senior High School
Jolo, Sulu

Elastic and Inelastic

General Physics 2

Submitted by:

Group 11-B

Cabrera, Jeysha Lynn I.

Manajil, Adriana M.
Kudjah, Radzmer A.

(STEM 1-12)

Submitted to:

Prof. Allen I. Talikan

May 16, 2023

 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
A perfectly elastic collision is defined as one in which there is no loss of kinetic energy in
the collision. An inelastic collision is one in which part of the kinetic energy is changed to some
other form of energy in the collision. Any macroscopic collision between objects will convert
some of the kinetic energy into internal energy and other forms of energy, so no large scale
impacts are perfectly elastic. Momentum is conserved in inelastic collisions, but one cannot
track the kinetic energy through the collision since some of it is converted to other forms of
energy. Collisions in ideal gases approach perfectly elastic collisions, as do scattering
interactions of sub-atomic particles which are deflected by the electromagnetic force. Some
large-scale interactions like the slingshot type gravitational interactions between satellites and
planets are perfectly elastic.
Collisions between hard spheres may be nearly elastic, so it is useful to calculate the
limiting case of an elastic collision. The assumption of conservation of momentum as well as the
conservation of kinetic energy makes possible the calculation of the final velocities in two-body
collisions.

Elastic Collision Definition:

An elastic collision is a collision in which there is no net loss in kinetic energy in the system
due to the collision. Both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved in an elastic collision.
Basically in the case of elastic collision, the kinetic energy before and after the collision
remains the same and is not converted to any other form of energy.
It can be either one-dimensional or two-dimensional. In the real world, perfectly elastic
collision is impossible because there is bound to be some energy conversion, however small.
However, though there is no change in the linear momentum of the whole system, there
is a change in the individual momenta of the involved components, which are equal and
opposite in magnitude and cancel each other out and the initial energy is conserved.

The following is a list of elastic collision examples:

1.) Tennis
The kinetic energy is supplied to the ball by hitting it with a tennis racket. The ball collides with
the net of the racket which in addition provides elastic potential energy to the ball which is
converted into kinetic energy. The opponent hits the ball maintaining the energy of the ball and
the process continues until the ball drops its momentum. This is also an example of collision as
the momentum and the kinetic energy of the ball are conserved after every collision.

2.) Ball bouncing on the ground

The ball bouncing on the ground is an example of the elastic collision too. The ball retains its
momentum while returning down to the ground and hence bounce back until its energy is
reduced.

3.) Collision of billiard ball

When you hit a billiard ball to target another ball, you apply a force on the ball, it moves with
the kinetic energy and transfers this energy to the next ball on colliding. Since there is a transfer
of the kinetic energy from one ball to the next and the momentum is conserved, we can say
that this is an elastic collision.

Inelastic Collision Definition:

An inelastic collision is such a type of collision that takes place between two objects in which
some energy is lost. In the case of inelastic collision, momentum is conserved but the kinetic
energy is not conserved. Most of the collisions in daily life are inelastic in nature.
In physics, an inelastic collision occurs when some amount of kinetic energy of a colliding
object/system is lost. The colliding particles stick together, and the maximum amount of kinetic
energy is lost in a perfectly inelastic collision. In such cases, kinetic energy lost is used in
bonding the two bodies together. Problems involving collisions are usually solved using the
conservation of momentum and energy.

The following is a list of perfectly inelastic collision examples:

1.) Car accident

A car approaching with a speed thwacks the car standing at rest, then the kinetic energy of the
car is transferred to the car at rest converting into some other form of energy that could be
potential energy or heat energy and sound energy. This is an example of inelastic collision
because the kinetic energy between the collisions of cars is not conserved.

2.) Boxing
Boxing is an example of an inelastic collision. The two players hit each other using their
muscular force. Each punch hitting the opponent player is an example of a collision, the energy
is not conserved here, and it turns into either the frictional energy due to rubbing of body or
potential of the muscular force.

3.) Mud ball thrown on a rigid wall

If you threw a mud ball on the wall, it will collide and stuck with the wall changing its shape. No
kinetic energy will be conserved and hence is an inelastic collision.