What happens to the momentum of a system during a perfectly inelastic collision?

What happens to the momentum of a system during a perfectly inelastic collision?

• A. It is lost entirely
• B. It is conserved
• C. It increases
• D. It depends on the energy involved

Answer: (B)

In a perfectly inelastic collision, the two colliding objects stick together after the collision and move as a single object. One of the key principles in mechanics is the conservation of momentum, which states that in a closed system, the total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision. This principle applies irrespective of the type of collision. While kinetic energy is not conserved in a perfectly inelastic collision—since some of it is transformed into other forms of energy, such as heat or sound—the total linear momentum remains unchanged. Thus, the vector sum of the momenta of the two objects before the collision equals the total momentum of the combined mass after the collision. The momentum of the system depends on the velocities and masses of the objects involved, but regardless of how kinetic energy changes, the momentum is conserved in this type of collision. This fundamental concept underscores why the correct answer is that the momentum is conserved.

In a perfectly inelastic collision, the two colliding objects stick together after the collision and move as a single object. One of the key principles in mechanics is the conservation of momentum, which states that in a closed system, the total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision.

This principle applies irrespective of the type of collision. While kinetic energy is not conserved in a perfectly inelastic collision—since some of it is transformed into other forms of energy, such as heat or sound—the total linear momentum remains unchanged. Thus, the vector sum of the momenta of the two objects before the collision equals the total momentum of the combined mass after the collision.

The momentum of the system depends on the velocities and masses of the objects involved, but regardless of how kinetic energy changes, the momentum is conserved in this type of collision. This fundamental concept underscores why the correct answer is that the momentum is conserved.