Question #fbc5c

1 Answer
Oct 1, 2017

Yes, it can be quite confusing. But help is at hand ...

Explanation:

There are two types of collisions, elastic and inelastic. In both the momentum, p is conserved (it always is, but may not be immediately apparent, such as driving a dodgem car into the barrier) but in only the ideal case of an elastic collision is no kinetic energy 'lost' to deforming objects, heat, sound etc.

It is true, both are related to velocity (speed in a particular direction, the vector form of the scalar quantity we know as just speed) but #p = m.v# whereas #E_k = 1/2m.v^2#

Any clearer?