| a collision in which the total kinetic energy of the colliding bodies or particles is not the same after the collision as it was before (opposed to elastic collision ). |
| inelastic collision n. A collision between two particles in which part of their kinetic energy is transformed to another form of energy. The total amount of energy remains the same. |
inelastic collision  (ĭn'ĭ-lās'tĭk) Pronunciation Key
Physics A collision between bodies in which the total kinetic energy of the bodies is not conserved. In an inelastic collision, the total momentum of the two bodies remains the same, but some of the initial kinetic energy is transformed into heat energy internal to the bodies, used up in deforming the bodies, or radiated away in some other fashion. Inelastic collisions, such as the collision of two balls of clay, tend to result in the slowing and sometimes the joining together of the colliding bodies. Comapre elastic collision. |