2) A car collides with a haystack. The car and the hay then travel together in the same direction. What type of collision is described? a) Elastic b) Inelastic c) Perfectly inelastic d) Explosion

Question

2) A car collides with a haystack. The car and the hay then travel together in the same direction. What type of collision is described? a) Elastic b) Inelastic c) Perfectly inelastic d) Explosion

Answer 1

The answer is **(c) Perfectly inelastic**.Here's why:* **Elastic Collision:** Kinetic energy is conserved. Imagine billiard balls bouncing off each other – they (mostly) retain their speed after the collision. This isn't the case with the car and haystack.* **Inelastic Collision:** Kinetic energy is *not* conserved. Some energy is lost, usually transformed into heat or sound. The car hitting the haystack definitely loses kinetic energy.* **Perfectly Inelastic Collision:** Kinetic energy is not conserved, *and* the objects stick together after the collision, moving with the same velocity. This perfectly describes the car and haystack scenario.* **Explosion:** The opposite of a collision; objects start together and move apart, increasing kinetic energy. Clearly not applicable here.

Question

2) A car collides with a haystack. The car and the hay then travel together in the same direction. What type of collision is described? a) Elastic b) Inelastic c) Perfectly inelastic d) Explosion

Solution

Answer