Question

Describe the effect of an inelastic collision on the total kinetic energy of the two-object system.

Answer 1

Inelastic collision:

In an inelastic collision, the total kinetic energy before the collision is not equal to the total kinetic energy after the collision.

Explanation:

• When two objects are approaching towards in opposite direction having different masses & different initial velocities.
• After the collision, their velocities change.
• In this collision, there is a loss of kinetic energy. The total kinetic energy before the collision is not equal to the total kinetic energy after the collision.
• In the inelastic collision, total kinetic energy is not preserved but it conserves total momentum.

• A perfectly inelastic collision happens when the maximum amount of kinetic energy in a system is lost.

Total loss of kinetic energy in the inelastic collision is given y following formula:

                  $\displaystyle \triangle K = \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{m_1 \times m_2}{M} \times (v_1 - v_2)^2$

where:

ΔK =  change in total kinetic energy

m1 = mass of object 1 after collision

m2 = mass of object 2 after collision

M = mass of object

v1 = velocity of object 1 after collision

v2 = velocity of object 2 after collision

Please refer following fig: