Inelastic collision

An inelastic collision is one in which the colliding bodies’ total kinetic energy decreases, while total momentum remains conserved if the system is isolated.

Conservation of momentum: The total momentum of an isolated system remains constant over time. It fixes the combined motion after impact when external forces are negligible.
Momentum: A vector quantity equal to an object's mass multiplied by its velocity. Momentum is the conserved quantity used to relate pre- and post-collision motion.
Ballistic pendulum: A device that estimates a projectile’s speed from its inelastic impact with a suspended target. Its embedded projectile and target form a classic perfectly inelastic collision.
Mechanical energy: The sum of a system’s kinetic and potential energy. A decrease in kinetic energy may become internal energy while total energy remains conserved.
Kinetic energy: The energy an object has because of its motion. Some initial kinetic energy becomes heat, sound, or deformation during the collision.
Velocity: The rate and direction of change of an object's position. Initial and final velocities determine momentum and kinetic energy in collision calculations.
Crashworthiness: A vehicle’s ability to protect occupants during a crash. Vehicle structures deform to absorb kinetic energy in inelastic impacts.
Plastic deformation: Permanent change in an object's shape after stress exceeds its elastic limit. It is one route by which collision energy becomes lasting structural change.
Coefficient of restitution: A dimensionless measure of relative separation speed divided by relative approach speed in a collision. It quantifies how much relative motion remains after impact.
Mass: A measure of an object's inertia and its resistance to acceleration. The bodies’ masses set how momentum is shared after impact.

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