Apply conservation of momentum to elastic and perfectly inelastic collisions. Computes final velocities, kinetic energy before and after, and energy lost.
m₁v₁ + m₂v₂ = m₁v₁' + m₂v₂'
In an isolated system (no external forces), total momentum is conserved in all collision types. For perfectly inelastic: objects stick together (v₁' = v₂' = v_f).
Elastic: KE conserved; Inelastic: KE lost
Elastic: both momentum and KE conserved. Perfectly inelastic: momentum conserved, maximum KE lost. Real collisions are somewhere between.
Learn to distinguish elastic, inelastic, and perfectly inelastic collisions with step-by-step guidance.