What is the Difference Between Perfectly Elastic and Perfectly Inelastic Collision?

The main difference between perfectly elastic and perfectly inelastic collisions lies in the conservation of kinetic energy and the behavior of the objects involved in the collision. Here's a comparison of the two types of collisions:

Perfectly Elastic Collision:

• Kinetic energy is conserved, meaning that the total kinetic energy of the objects before and after the collision remains the same.
• The objects rebound from one another with the same relative speed with which they approached.
• This type of collision is more theoretical and is rarely observed in real-life situations.

Perfectly Inelastic Collision:

• The total kinetic energy of the objects does not remain the same, as some of the kinetic energy is converted into heat, sound, or work done in deforming the objects.
• The objects stick together and move as a single object after the collision.
• The lost kinetic energy is converted to heat or work done in deforming the objects.

In summary, a perfectly elastic collision involves the conservation of kinetic energy, while a perfectly inelastic collision results in the loss of kinetic energy, which is converted into other forms of energy, such as heat, sound, or work done in deforming the objects.

Comparative Table: Perfectly Elastic vs Perfectly Inelastic Collision

Here is a table comparing perfectly elastic and perfectly inelastic collisions:

In summary, perfectly elastic collisions conserve both the momentum and kinetic energy of the objects involved, with no energy going into deformation. In contrast, perfectly inelastic collisions conserve only the momentum, with energy being lost to deformation and the total kinetic energy of the objects not remaining the same.