Elastic and Inelastic Collisions

Theory

In every isolated collision, $m_1{v}_1+m_2{v}_2=m_1{v}_1^{\prime }+m_2{v}_2^{\prime }$. The coefficient of restitution $e=\frac{v_2^{\prime }-v_1^{\prime }}{v_1-v_2}$ measures how much energy is kept: $e=1$ elastic; $e=0$ perfectly inelastic (they move together at $v=\frac{m_1{v}_1}{m_1+m_2}$).

What to observe

• Top track (e = 1, equal masses): the carts swap velocities.
• Bottom track (e = 0, 2 kg + 4 kg): they move together at 1 m/s.

Try this

• Select a cart and look at Momentum in the live readouts.
• Change the masses and the initial speed.

Also available in: Colisões elásticas e inelásticas (Português) · Choques elásticos e inelásticos (Español)