Collision

Elastic Collision

A collision of masses where both momentum and energy of the system is conserved before and after the collision.

Conservation of Momentum:

m₁u₁ + m₂u₂ = m₁v₁ + m₂v₂

Conservaation of Energy:

m₁u₁² + m₂u₂² = m₁v₁² + m₂v₂²

Inelastic Collision

A collision of masses where only momentum of the system is conserved before and after the collision.

Conservation of Momentum:

m₁u₁ + m₂u₂ = m₁v₁ + m₂v₂