All Flashcards
Label the diagram of an inelastic collision.
Objects stick together after the collision, kinetic energy is not conserved.
Label the diagram of an elastic collision.
Objects bounce off each other, both kinetic energy and momentum are conserved.
What happens when the net external force on a system is zero?
The total momentum of the system remains constant.
What happens in a completely inelastic collision?
Objects stick together, and kinetic energy is not conserved.
What happens if the net external force on a system is zero regarding the center of mass?
The acceleration of the center of mass is zero; if moving, it continues with the same velocity.
What happens if there's a net external force on a system regarding the center of mass?
The center of mass will accelerate as if it were a single particle with the total mass of the system.
What is momentum?
Momentum is usually conserved during a collision if the net external force on a system is zero (or negligible).
What is an elastic collision?
A collision where objects bounce off each other, and both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved.
What is an inelastic collision?
A collision where objects either stick together or deform, and kinetic energy is not conserved, but momentum is still conserved.
What is a completely inelastic collision?
A special type of inelastic collision where objects stick together after colliding.
What is the center of mass (COM)?
The point where the system's mass is evenly distributed; the balancing point of an object.