There are two types of collisions: perfectly elastic and inelastic.In a totally elastic collisions momentum, total energy and kinetic energy is conserved.In an inelastic collision, momentum and total energy are conserved but kinetic energy is not conserved.Total energy is conserved, but kinetic energy does not have to be conserved as it can be transferred to other forms of energy.
Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
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Specification: OCR Physics A (H156), AS-level, 3.5.2 Collisions. Topic: Momentum.
Key terms in this lesson
- work done
- The energy transferred when a force moves its point of application through a distance in the direction of the force.
- energy
- The capacity of a system to do work.
More in Momentum
- The Four Fundamental Forces
- Linear Momentum
- Conservation of Momentum
- Explosions vs Collisions
- Air Bags
- Conservation of Momentum as a Consequence of Newton's Laws
- Impulse and Force-time Graphs
- Adding Momentum
All 14 lessons in Momentum · All OCR AS-level Physics topics