inelastic and elastic collisions

• in an inelastic collision

  if they are the same masses --> AB velocity = 1/2 A velocity

  if they are different masses --> velocity will be smaller than velocity of A
• in an elastic collision

  1. both have the same mass --> all of the momentum is transferred from A to B
  2. if A has a greater mass --> both have momentum, but B has a high velocity, A doesnt
  3. if A has less mass --> A will recoil, B will be slow
  4. if they both go towards each other and collide, then the one with the least mass recoils
• in inelastic collisions, kinetic energy is lost
• in elastic collisions, KE is conserved