AP Physics C: Mechanics Flashcards: Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
If two billiard balls collide and the system's kinetic energy is conserved, what type of interaction is it?
This is an elastic collision because the initial kinetic energy of the system is equal to the final kinetic energy.
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If two billiard balls collide and the system's kinetic energy is conserved, what type of interaction is it?
This is an elastic collision because the initial kinetic energy of the system is equal to the final kinetic energy.
Define a perfectly inelastic collision.
In a perfectly inelastic collision, the objects stick together and move with the same velocity after the collision.
What is the key difference regarding kinetic energy between elastic and inelastic collisions?
In an elastic collision, kinetic energy is conserved, whereas in an inelastic collision, kinetic energy decreases.
What is the defining characteristic of the objects' motion after a perfectly inelastic collision?
After a perfectly inelastic collision, the objects move as a single unit with the same final velocity.
What is an inelastic collision?
An inelastic collision is one in which the total kinetic energy of the system decreases.
What is an elastic collision?
An elastic collision is one in which the initial kinetic energy of the system is equal to the final kinetic energy of the system.
The total kinetic energy of a system is 50 J before a collision and 30 J after. Was the collision elastic or inelastic?
The collision was inelastic because the total kinetic energy of the system decreased.
Two lumps of clay collide and merge into a single lump. What type of collision is this?
This is a perfectly inelastic collision because the objects stick together and move with the same velocity after colliding.
How does the total kinetic energy of a system change during an elastic collision?
In an elastic collision, the total kinetic energy of the system is conserved, meaning the initial kinetic energy is equal to the final kinetic energy.
In which type of collision is kinetic energy lost from the system?
Kinetic energy is lost (decreases) from the system in an inelastic collision.