elastic collision
Energy-preserving bounce
An elastic collision is one in which kinetic energy is conserved—the total energy of motion before and after impact remains the same.
In everyday collisions, some energy converts to heat, sound, or deformation, but perfectly elastic collisions occur between atoms and subatomic particles: Billiard balls approximate an elastic collision.
Contrasts with inelastic collision, where kinetic energy is lost.
Unmarked billiard striker
- breakInterrupt continuity
- reboundReturn after deflection
- bank shotScored via deflection
- caromAngled deflection shot
cushion · pocket · snooker · pool · English · side spin · deflection · angle
Power from movement
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- velocityDirected rate of motion
- bounceSpring back after impact
- reboundReturn after deflection
transfer · joules · speed · motion · impact · dynamics · mechanics · kinematics
Product of mass, velocity
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- impulseSudden urge to act
- massQuantity of matter
- velocityDirected rate of motion
vector · linear momentum · Newton's cradle · recoil · exchange · before and after · closed system
Distribution in many directions
- neutronsUncharged subatomic particles
- protonsPositive nuclear particles
- atomsSmallest elemental units
- moleculesBonded atomic groups
nuclei · subatomic · accelerator · cross-section · target · projectile · beam · interaction
cue ball
Unmarked billiard striker
carom · cushion · pocket · snooker · pool · English · side spin · deflection · angle · rack
kinetic energy
Power from movement
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- velocityDirected rate of motion
- bounceSpring back after impact
rebound · transfer · joules · speed · motion · impact · dynamics · mechanics · kinematics · trajectory
momentum
Product of mass, velocity
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- impulseSudden urge to act
- massQuantity of matter
velocity · vector · linear momentum · Newton's cradle · recoil · exchange · before and after · closed system
scattering
Distribution in many directions
molecules · nuclei · subatomic · accelerator · cross-section · target · projectile · beam · interaction · nuclear
elastic, collision, elasticity, elastically, inelastic, collide, collides, collided, colliding