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Inelastic collisions conserve momentum but not kinetic energy. Objects stick together or deform, with lost energy converting to heat and deformation.
Formula
The calculator conserves momentum: m₁v₁ + m₂v₂ = (m₁ + m₂)v_final
Guida passo passo
- 1Enter masses and velocities of colliding objects
- 2The calculator conserves momentum: m₁v₁ + m₂v₂ = (m₁ + m₂)v_final
- 3Results show final velocity and energy loss
Esempi risolti
Ingresso
m₁ = 1 kg, v₁ = 10 m/s, m₂ = 1 kg, v₂ = 0 m/s (perfectly inelastic)
Risultato
v_final = 5 m/s, ΔKE = 25 J lost
Momentum conserved, energy not
Errori comuni da evitare
- ✕Attempting to conserve kinetic energy (it's not conserved)
- ✕Calculating final velocity incorrectly using separate masses
Domande frequenti
Why is kinetic energy not conserved?
Energy transforms into deformation, heat, sound, and other forms; the total energy is still conserved.
What's a perfectly inelastic collision?
Objects stick together after collision, representing maximum possible energy loss while still conserving momentum.
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