Physics A-Level
Elastic versus inelastic collisions
What Elastic versus inelastic collisions means in Physics A-Level, as defined for AQA.
Definition of Elastic versus inelastic collisions
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Reference: AQA
In an elastic collision both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved; in an inelastic collision momentum is still conserved but kinetic energy is transferred to thermal energy, sound or deformation.
Topics that use Elastic versus inelastic collisions
- Momentum (AQA A-Level)
Related terms
- Algebraic modelling of collisions
- Area under a force–time graph
- Closed system
- Coalescence and explosions
- Conservation of linear momentum
- Consistency of units and signs
- Explosions as momentum-conserving separations
- Impulse
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