Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
elastic collision
Physics
/ɪˈlæstɪk kəˈlɪʒən/
Definition
An elastic collision is a type of collision in which the total kinetic energy of the system is conserved before and after the collision.
Examples
- During a game of billiards, when the balls collide and bounce off each other, they undergo an elastic collision.
- The particles in a gas often experience elastic collisions with each other and with the walls of their container.
Meaning
In an elastic collision, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. This means that when two objects collide elastically, they bounce off each other without any deformation or generation of heat, maintaining their original shapes.
Synonyms
- perfect collision
- non-deformative collision
