Collisions

=//Collisions//=

What is an __Elastic Collision__ ?
When you think of an elastic, you think of something that moves around when stretched but returns to its original form after. A similar idea is used here. An **Elastic Collision** occurs when objects collide and bounce back without deforming. The key to the **Elastic Collision** is that there is __**NO ENERGY LOST.**__ Both energy and momentum are **conserved** in this collision.



The two objects can have different **velocities** and can even have different **masses** as shown above. Notice that the energy is being transferred from one object to another conserving energy.

What is an __Inelastic Collision__ ?
There are a couple differences here between the two collision types. One of the differences is that in an **Inelastic Collision,** the objects collide but deform in some way instead of just bouncing back. This causes a loss in energy, there for __**ENERGY IS LOST.**__ In this case only momentum is **conserved** in this particular collision. This can also be known as a **Hit and Stick** Collision.

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Just as before, the **velocities** and **masses** may be different for this effect to occur. A good example of this is a car crash at high speed when the cars fuse together as one and the **momentum** is still **conserved** but there is __**energy lost**__ which is what makes it a **Inelastic Collision**.

//References//

 * 1) LD's Notes on Collisions from Unit A
 * 2) Animations are from google