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A 

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 car travelling at 
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collides with another 
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 car that is at rest. The 2 bumpers lock and also the cars move forward together. What is their last velocity?


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Explanation:

This is an instance of an inelastic collision, together the two cars stick with each other after colliding. We deserve to assume inert is conserved.

You are watching: Distinguish between an elastic collision and an inelastic collision

To make the equation easier, let"s speak to the first car "1" and also the 2nd car "2."

Using conservation of momentum and also the equation for momentum,

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, we can set up the adhering to equation.

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Since the car stick together, castle will have the same final velocity. We know the second car starts in ~ rest, and the velocity of the an initial car is given. Plug in these values and solve because that the last velocity.

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Example question #2 : expertise Elastic and also Inelastic Collisions


A 

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 ball relocating at 
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 strikes a 
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 ball at rest. After the collision the 
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 ball is moving with a velocity of 
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. What is the velocity the the second ball?


Possible Answers:
Correct answer:

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Explanation:

This is an example of one elastic collision. We begin with 2 masses and end v two masses with no lose of energy. 

We can use the legislation of conservation of momentum to equate the initial and final terms.

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Plug in the provided values and solve because that

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.

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Example inquiry #3 : expertise Elastic and Inelastic Collisions


A 

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 ball strikes a
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 ball in ~ rest. After the collision the 
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 ball is relocating with a velocity of 
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 and the second ball is relocating with a velocity of 
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. What is the early velocity that the first ball?


Possible Answers:
Correct answer:

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Explanation:

This is an example of an elastic collision. We start with two masses and also end v two masses v no ns of energy. 

We deserve to use the law of preservation of inert to equate the initial and final terms.

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Plug in the offered values and also solve because that

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.

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Example concern #1 : understanding Elastic and also Inelastic Collisions


A 

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 ball relocating at 
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 strikes a second ball in ~ rest. After the collision the 
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 ball is moving with a velocity of 
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 and the second ball is relocating with a velocity of 
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. What is the massive of the 2nd ball?


Possible Answers:
Correct answer:

*


Explanation:

This is an example of an elastic collision. We start with 2 masses and end with two masses through no ns of energy. 

We can use the law of preservation of inert to equate the initial and final terms.

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Plug in the offered values and also solve because that

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.

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Example inquiry #5 : knowledge Elastic and also Inelastic Collisions


Which the these would certainly NOT be an example of one inelastic collision?


Possible Answers:

Two car crash into each other, and stop through a according to bang


Two hydrogen atom fuse with each other to form a helium atom and also gamma radiation


Neutrons fuse with hydrogen atoms in a atom reactor main point such the kinetic power is conserved


A complement scrapes a matchbook and bursts into flame


A male is clapping his hand such the they move with equal, however opposite velocities


Correct answer:

Neutrons fuse through hydrogen atoms in a atom reactor main point such that kinetic energy is conserved


Explanation:

The difference between an elastic and an inelastic collision is the lose or preservation of kinetic energy. In one inelastic collision kinetic energy is not conserved, and also will change forms into sound, heat, radiation, or some various other form. In an elastic collision kinetic power is conserved and does not readjust forms.

Remember, total power and total momentum room conserved nevertheless of the form of collision; however, while power cannot be created nor destroyed, the can adjust forms.

In the prize options, just one selection preserves the full kinetic energy. The result bang indigenous the vehicle crash, the fire from the match, the sound of hand clapping, and the gamma radiation during hydrogen combination are all instances of the switch of kinetic energy to other forms, making each of this an inelastic collision. Just the neutron combination described maintains the conservation of kinetic energy, make this an elastic collision.


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Example question #1 : knowledge Elastic and also Inelastic Collisions


Hockey puck A (2kg) travels with a velocity of 

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 to the right as soon as it collides through hockey puck B (1.6kg), i m sorry was originally at rest. ~ the collision, puck A is stationary. I think no external forces space in play and that the momentum of the pucks are conserved. What is the last velocity of puck B after ~ the collision?


Possible Answers:
Correct answer:

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Explanation:

Elastic collisions happen when two objects collide and also kinetic energy isn"t lost. The objects cant from each other and also kinetic energy and also momentum are conserved. Inelastic collisions are claimed to occur when the two objects remain together after ~ the collision so us are handling an elastic collision.

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Above, the subscripts 1 and also 2 represent puck A and also B respectively, and the initial momentum of puck B is zero, so the term is not consisted of in the equation above.

Plug in initial and final velocities and also mass:

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Example concern #7 : understanding Elastic and also Inelastic Collisions


A space vehicle, in a circular orbit around Earth, collides through a tiny asteroid the ends increase in the vehicle’s warehouse bay. Because that this collision


Possible Answers:

Neither momentum nor kinetic energy is conserved


Only momentum is conserved


Only kinetic energy is conserved


Both momentum and also kinetic energy are conserved


Correct answer:

Only inert is conserved


Explanation:

This is one inelastic collision together the 2 objects rod together and move together with the same velocity. Inelastic collisions conserve momentum, but they execute not maintain kinetic energy.


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Example concern #8 : knowledge Elastic and also Inelastic Collisions


A bullet with mass 

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access time a ballistic pendulum v length 
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and also mass 
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and lodges in it. As soon as the cartridge hits the pendulum it swings up indigenous the equilibrium position and reaches one angle 
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at its maximum. Identify the bullet’s velocity.


Possible Answers:
Correct answer:

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Explanation:

We will should start at the finish of the situation and also work behind in stimulate to recognize the velocity that the bullet. In ~ the really end, the pendulum v the cartridge reaches its best height and also therefore comes to a stop. It has gravitational potential energy. In ~ the bottom of the pendulum right after the bullet collides v it, it has actually kinetic energy as result of the velocity of the bullet. V the law of conservation of energy, us can set the kinetic energy of the pendulum appropriate after the collision equal to the gravitational potential power of the pendulum in ~ the highest point.

To recognize the elevation of the pendulum us will should use trig and also triangles to uncover the height. We understand that the pendulum provides a 30-degree angle v the equilibrium position at its best height. The length of the pendulum is detailed which is the hypotenuse the this triangle. We require to discover the surrounding side that this triangle. We have the right to use cosine to determine this.

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We deserve to now subtract this worth from the length of the pendulum to determine just how high off the floor the pendulum is in ~ its highest point. 

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We can now collection the kinetic power of the pendulum best after the collision same to the gravitational potential power of the pendulum at the greatest point.

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The mass is the exact same throughout so it falls out of the equation.

See more: 5 Examples Of Well Defined Sets In Math, Basic Concepts Of Sets

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The pendulum v the cartridge was moving 

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after ~ the collision. We have the right to now usage momentum to identify the speed of the bullet prior to the collision. Conservation of momentum says that the momentum before the collision should equal the inert after the collision.