Day 2: L 2.1 : Momentum and Collisions

What are the two main types of collisions?

• Kinetic and potential collisions

• Elastic and inelastic collisions

• Static and dynamic collisions

• Rotational and translational collisions

Write the equation for the conservation of momentum in a two-object system.

• m1 + m2 = v1_final + v2_final

• m1*v1_initial + m2*v2_initial = m1*v1_final + m2*v2_final

• m1*v1_initial - m2*v2_initial = m1*v1_final + m2*v2_final

• m1*v1_initial + m2*v2_initial = m1*v1_final - m2*v2_final

Give an example of an elastic collision in real life.

• A car crash on a highway.

• The collision between two billiard balls on a pool table.

• A basketball hitting the ground.

• A person jumping into a pool.

What is a key characteristic of inelastic collisions?

• Kinetic energy is not conserved.

• Momentum is not conserved.

• Kinetic energy is fully conserved.

• Objects bounce off each other with no deformation.

How does kinetic energy behave in elastic versus inelastic collisions?

• In elastic collisions, kinetic energy is conserved; in inelastic collisions, kinetic energy is not conserved.

• Kinetic energy is always conserved in both elastic and inelastic collisions.

• In elastic collisions, kinetic energy is transformed into potential energy; in inelastic collisions, it remains unchanged.

• In elastic collisions, kinetic energy is lost; in inelastic collisions, it is conserved.