2006-11-12 10:13:14 · 3 answers · asked by M.K 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
No energy is lost as a result of heat or material deformation in an elastic collision. It simplifies the mathematics by not having to keep track of non-motion energy, but it does not reflect practical results.
If automobile collisions were totally elastic, body shops would be out of business but funeral homes and hospitals would have a boom.
2006-11-12 10:34:49 · answer #1 · answered by spongeworthy_us 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Energy and Momentum are both conserved regardless of collision type. An elastic collision is one in which all of the KINETIC energy remains Kinetic energy, and is not convereted to some other energy type. Generally, an elastic collision is one in which the problem can be simplified by ignoring internal reactions and composition of the colliding objects, and just think of them as unalterable masses.
2006-11-12 18:41:55 · answer #2 · answered by _Hithere_ 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Energy is conserved.
Momentum is conserved regardless of being elastic or not.
2006-11-12 18:18:23 · answer #3 · answered by rscanner 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋