Describe a real world example for each type of collision: Real World Elastic Collision and Real World Inelastic Collision.

Question

anonymous · Answer

This sounds like physics to me.  An inelastic collision would be the easier one to find an example of--any collision in which energy is lost.  Bouncing ball, car crash?

Elastic is harder.  It never really occurs in macroscopic or larger molecules--typically only at the subatomic level is any collision truly elastic.  Maybe two very bouncy things hitting each other would work, though.

anonymous · Answer

Where no sound energy or kinetic energy is lost--or very very little is lost.  Think rubber balls would be a fair example.

wolfe8 · Answer

How bout Newton's cradle?

anonymous · Answer

Mm, energy lost through sound?  My physics teacher says it's not the best example.

wolfe8 · Answer

Ah if you want a completely elastic one, it doesn't exist in actual collisions. However, collisions due to repulsive forces are elastic. Read more: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/elacol.html