An elastic collision is a type of collision between two particles where there is no loss of kinetic energy. This means that the total kinetic energy of the particles before the collision is equal to the total kinetic energy after the collision.
In an elastic collision, there is no loss of kinetic energy and the total momentum is conserved. In an inelastic collision, some kinetic energy is lost and the total momentum is not conserved. Inelastic collisions often result in a change in the shape or deformation of the particles involved.
The equation for calculating the final velocities of particles in an elastic collision is v1f = (m1 - m2)/(m1 + m2) * v1i + (2*m2)/(m1 + m2) * v2i and v2f = (2*m1)/(m1 + m2) * v1i + (m2 - m1)/(m1 + m2) * v2i, where v1f and v2f are the final velocities, m1 and m2 are the masses of the particles, and v1i and v2i are the initial velocities of the particles.
In an elastic collision with two particles of different masses, the lighter particle will experience a greater change in velocity compared to the heavier particle. This is because the lighter particle has a lower mass and therefore a greater acceleration for the same force. However, the total kinetic energy of the system will still be conserved.
Yes, an elastic collision can occur between two objects of different materials as long as the collision is perfectly elastic. However, the materials of the objects may affect the amount of energy that is lost due to factors such as deformation or friction.