COLLISIONS

Elastic Collision
In elastic collision,
1. The total linear momentum is conserved,
2. The total kinetic energy of the system is also conserved and
3. After the collision, the bodies completely regain from their deformities.
Completely Inelastic Collision
In completely inelastic collision,
1. The total linear momentum is conserved,
2. The total kinetic energy of the system is not conserved and
3. After the collision, the bodies stick together and move with common velocity.

Inelastic Collision
In inelastic collision,
1. The total linear momentum is conserved,
2. The total kinetic energy of the system is not conserved and
3. After the collision, the bodies partly regain from their deformities and some of he
initial KE is lost. Home Next Previous
Note:
1. Total momentum of an isolated system is always conserved, whether the
collision is elastic or inelastic.
2. But, the total KE is conserved only in elastic and not in inelastic collision.
In inelastic
collision, the loss of KE appears in any other form of energy (usually heat
energy).
3. No collision is perfectly elastic nor completely inelastic. Most of the collisions
are inelastic.

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Elastic Collision in One Dimension
If the initial and final velocities of both the bodies are along the same straight
line, then the collision is called ‘one-dimensional’ or ‘head-on’ collision.

m1 F21 F12 m1 m2
m2
u1 u2 v1 v2
m1 to see themcollision…
Click 2

Consider two bodies A and B of mass m1 and m2 moving with velocities u1 and
u2 respectively. Let the bodies collide, get apart and move with final velocities
v1 and v2 respectively along the same direction as that before collision.
Let us consider the scalar treatment of the quantities for simplicity and
because the motion is in one dimension (in the same direction) and energy is
a scalar concept.
Since momentum is conserved,
m1v1 + m2v2 = m1u1 + m2u2 ……….(1)
or m2(v2 – u2) = m1(v1 – u1) ……….(2)
In elastic collision, kinetic energy is also conserved.
½ m1v12 + ½ m2v22 = ½ m1u12 + ½ m2u22
or m2(v22 – u22) = m1(v12 – u12) ……….(3)
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Dividing eqn. (3) by eqn. (2),

v2 + u2 = v1 + u1 ……….(4)

or v2 = v1 + u1 – u2 ……….(5) (to eliminate v2 to get v1)

Substituting for v2 from eqn. (5) in eqn. (1),

m1v1 + m2 (v1 + u1 – u2) = m1u1 + m2u2

v1 (m1 + m2) = u1 (m1 – m2) + 2 m2u2

u1 (m1 – m2) + 2 m2u2

v1 =
(m1 + m2)

(m1 – m2) 2 m2
or v1 = u1 + u2 ……….(6)
(m1 + m2) (m1 + m2)

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 Again, v2 + u2 = v1 + u1 ……….(4)

or v1 = v2 + u2 – u1 ……….(7) (to eliminate v1 to get v2)

Substituting for v1 from eqn. (7) in eqn. (1),

m1 (v2 + u2 – u1) + m2 v2 = m1u1 + m2u2

v2 (m1 + m2) = u2 (m2 – m1) + 2 m1u1

2 m1u1 + u2 (m2 – m1)

v2 =
(m1 + m2)

2 m1 (m2 – m1)
or v2 = u1 + u2 ……….(8)
(m1 + m2) (m1 + m2)

Eqns. (6) and (8) give the final velocities after collision in terms of their
masses and initial velocities.

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 (m1 – m2) 2 m2
v1 = u1 + u2 ……….(6)
(m1 + m2) (m1 + m2)

2 m1 (m2 – m1)
v2 = u1 + u2 ……….(8)
(m1 + m2) (m1 + m2)

Special Cases:
Case I:
If the two masses are equal, i.e. m1 = m2 = m (say), then
v1 = u2 and v2 = u 1
It is clear that the bodies interchange their velocities after the collision.
Sub - Case:
If the second body was at rest before collision i.e. u 2 = 0, then
v1 = 0 and v 2 = u1
The first body comes to rest and pushes the second body with its (first)
initial speed.

Next time when you play carom….. just enjoy Physics!

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 (m1 – m2) 2 m2
v1 = u1 + u2 ……….(6)
(m1 + m2) (m1 + m2)

2 m1 (m2 – m1)
v2 = u1 + u2 ……….(8)
(m1 + m2) (m1 + m2)
Case II:
If m1 >> m2, i.e. m2 ≈ 0, then
v1 ≈ u1
and v2 ≈ 2u1 – u2
The first body continues almost undisturbed and the second body flies
off with greater velocity.
Sub - Case:
If the second body was at rest before collision i.e. u 2 = 0, then
v1 ≈ u1
and v2 ≈ 2u1

Try to play with heavier striker and observe!

Or Imagine a heavy truck hitting a cyclist!
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 (m1 – m2) 2 m2
v1 = u1 + u2 ……….(6)
(m1 + m2) (m1 + m2)

2 m1 (m2 – m1)
v2 = u1 + u2 ……….(8)
(m1 + m2) (m1 + m2)
Case III:
If m2 >> m1, i.e. m1 ≈ 0, then
v1 ≈ – u1 + 2u2
and v2 ≈ u2
The second body continues almost undisturbed.

Sub - Case:
If the second body was at rest before collision i.e. u 2 = 0, then
v1 ≈ – u1
and v2 ≈ 0
The second body continues to be at rest and the first body reverses its
direction with its initial speed.
Imagine a cyclist bumping onto a road-roller!
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Completely Inelastic Collision in One Dimension
m1 m1
m2 m2
u1 u2 v
Click to see the collision…

Consider two bodies A and B of mass m1 and m2 moving with velocities u1 and
u2 respectively. Let the bodies collide, stick together and move with common
final velocity v along the same direction as that before collision.
Let us consider the scalar treatment of the quantities for simplicity and
because the motion is in one dimension (in the same direction) and energy is
a scalar concept.

Since momentum is conserved,

(m1 + m2)v = m1u1 + m2u2 ……….(1)

m1u1 + m2u2
or v=
(m1 + m2)

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In inelastic collision, kinetic energy is not conserved.
Total kinetic energy before collision = ½ m1u12 + ½ m2u22
Total kinetic energy after collision = ½ (m1 + m2)v2

Loss in kinetic energy on collision is

ΔK = ½ m1u12 + ½ m2u22 – ½ (m1 + m2)v2
2
m1u1 + m2u2
= ½ m1u12 + ½ m2u22 – ½ (m1 + m2)
(m1 + m2)

m12u12 + m22u22 + 2 m1m2u1u2

or ΔK = ½ m1u12 + ½ m2u22 – ½
(m1 + m2)

m12u12
If u2 = 0, then ΔK = ½ m1u12 – ½
(m1 + m2)

On simplification,
m1 m2
ΔK = ½ u12 which is a positive quantity as
(m1 + m2) expected.
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Elastic Collision in Two Dimensions
y m1 v1
m1v1 sin 1

m1 m2
u1 1 m1v1 cos 1

2 m2v2 cos 2 x

Click to see the collision…

m2
m2v2 sin 2
v2

Consider a body A of mass m1 moving with velocity u1 collides elastically with

another body B of mass m2 at rest. Let the bodies, after collision, move with
velocities v1 and v2 respectively along the directions as shown in the figure.
The collision takes place in two – dimensions, say in x-y plane.

Conservation laws have to be applied along x and y axes separately.

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Along x – axis:
m1u1 = m1v1 cos 1 + m2v2 cos 2

Along y – axis:
0 = m1v1 sin 1 – m2v2 sin 2

Kinetic energy is a scalar and hence, the law of conservation of energy is

given by

½ m1u12 = ½ m1v12 + ½ m2v22

We have four unknown quantities v1, v2, 1 and 2 and only 3 equations.
Therefore, atleast one more quantity must be known to solve the
mathematical problems.

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