AQA GCSE Types of Collisions - Science Worksheets

AQA GCSE Types of Collisions(Physics)

Types of Collisions

There are two types of collision that can occur in momentum

1.Elastic collisions

2.Inelastic collisions

Elastic Collision

An elastic collision is one where both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved.

This means that both the total momentum and total kinetic energy are the same before and after the collision.

The key difference between an elastic and inelastic collision is that in an inelastic collision some of the kinetic energy of colliding object(s) will be transferred to another energy store such as thermal energy store. For an elastic collision this does not happen, total kinetic energy before = total kinetic energy after collision.

Examples of elastic collisions.

1.If two balls move toward each other before the collision, they will typically rebound and move in opposite directions after the collision.

2.If one object is moving faster behind another in the same direction, the faster object may slow down, and the slower one may speed up, but both can still move in the same direction after the collision.

However, the total kinetic energy before the collision must be equal to the total kinetic energy after the collision.

Inelastic Collisions.

In an inelastic collision, momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not conserved.

This is because during the collision some of the kinetic energy will be transferred to another energy store such as thermal energy store.

There are two types of inelastic collision

1.General inelastic collisions where the resulting objects do not stick together after the collision

2. Perfectly inelastic collision, where the objects do stick together after the collision

General inelastic collision

When the ball hits the wall, it bounces off (not sticking), but it loses some kinetic energy because some of it is converted into heat, sound, and deformation of the ball. After the collision, the ball may have a lower velocity.

Perfectly inelastic collision

In a perfectly inelastic collision, the two cars stick together after the collision and move with the same velocity. They lose a significant amount of kinetic energy.

In the example below, one drum collides with another drum, then both drums move along together as one moving unit. They are stuck together.

Practice Question

1. State the names of the two main types of collision

2. Explain the difference between the two types of collision that you have named in question 1.

3. A football hits a garden fence and bounces off. It is moving more slowly after hitting the fence. State the name of the type of collision involved.

4. Marie is driving her bumper car around the track and drives into an empty car. After the collision both Marie’s car and the empty car move along together. State the name of this type of collision.