Inelastic Collisions: Momentum Conservation & Examples

In summary, momentum is conserved during inelastic collisions, but energy is not (unless there is no friction in the system). This can be seen in the example of a car hitting a garbage can and both objects continuing to move with the same speed. While both energy and momentum are conserved in any type of collision, inelastic collisions result in a transformation of kinetic energy into another form of energy. This can be further explored through various examples and mathematical explanations found through a quick Google search.
  • #1
HAMZASHABIR
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I don't understand how momentum is conserved during inelastic collision...please help me out with some relevant and practical examples...thanks
 
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  • #2
yes , momentum is conserved but energy is not during inelastic collision (if there is no friction in the system )
suppose a car hits a garbage can and then they both continue going on with a same speed ... you can just google search for lots of examples with mathematical explanations
 
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  • #3
THE HARLEQUIN said:
yes , momentum is conserved but energy is not during inelastic collision (if there is no friction in the system )
suppose a car hits a garbage can and then they both continue going on with a same speed ... you can just google search for lots of examples with mathematical explanations
THE HARLEQUIN said:
yes , momentum is conserved but energy is not during inelastic collision (if there is no friction in the system )
suppose a car hits a garbage can and then they both continue going on with a same speed ... you can just google search for lots of examples with mathematical explanations
thanks
 
  • #4
THE HARLEQUIN said:
yes , momentum is conserved but energy is not during inelastic collision (if there is no friction in the system )
Both energy and momentum are conserved in any kind of collision. Its just that in inelastic collisions, kinetic energy is not conserved.
 
  • #5
Shyan said:
Both energy and momentum are conserved in any kind of collision. Its just that in inelastic collisions, kinetic energy is not conserved.
yes .. that's what i meant to say .. it's a part of the kinetic energy that transforms into another form of energy during inelastic collisions ...
 

FAQ: Inelastic Collisions: Momentum Conservation & Examples

What is an inelastic collision?

An inelastic collision is a type of collision in which the total kinetic energy of the system is not conserved. This means that some of the initial kinetic energy is lost in the form of heat, sound, or deformation of the objects involved.

How is momentum conserved in an inelastic collision?

Momentum is conserved in an inelastic collision because the total momentum of the system before and after the collision remains the same. This means that the sum of the individual momentums of the objects involved in the collision will remain constant.

What are some examples of inelastic collisions?

Some examples of inelastic collisions include a car crashing into a wall, a ball bouncing and losing some of its kinetic energy, and two objects sticking together after colliding.

How is an inelastic collision different from an elastic collision?

An inelastic collision is different from an elastic collision because in an elastic collision, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. This means that the objects involved in an elastic collision will bounce off of each other without any loss of energy.

What is the equation for calculating the momentum of an object?

The equation for calculating the momentum of an object is p = m x v, where p is momentum, m is mass, and v is velocity. In an inelastic collision, this equation can be used to show that the total momentum before and after the collision remains the same.

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