Question

Which of the following statements is true
Option 1 In elastic collisions, the momentum is conserved but not in inelastic collision

Option 2 Both kinetic energy and momentum are conserved in elastic as well as inelastic collisions

Option 3 Total kinetic energy is not conserved but momentum is conserved in inelastic collision

Option 4 Total kinetic energy is conserved in elastic collisions but momentum is not conserved in elastic collisions​

Answer 1

The law of momentum conservation can be stated as follows. For a collision occurring between object 1 and object 2 in an isolated system, the total momentum of the two objects before the collision is equal to the total momentum of the two objects after the collision.

Answer 2

The true statement is Option 3 Total kinetic energy is not conserved but momentum is conserved in inelastic collision.

Explanation:

There are two types of collisions that occurs when two particles physically interact with each other.

• Kinetic energy is the energy that particles have while they are in motion.
• Momentum is the product of mass and velocity with which particles move.

Elastic collision:

• As a result of elastic collision, there is no net loss in kinetic energy in the system.
• Particles after collision gets separated and kinetic energy remains conserved.
• Momentum and kinetic energy both are conserved in elastic collision.
• Momentum of the sum of individual particles is equal to the combined momentum of particles after collision.
• Kinetic energy of the sum of individual particles is equal to the combined kinetic energy of particles after collision.

Inelastic collision:

• Inelastic collision is the collision where there is loss in kinetic energy after collision.
• Momentum is conserved after collision.
• Momentum of the sum of individual particles is equal to the combined momentum of particles after collision.
• Kinetic energy of the sum of individual particles is not equal to the combined kinetic energy of particles after collision.
• Particles after collision, combine together physically and so there is loss in kinetic energy as the energy gets transformed into thermal energy or other energies.