Exam-style question
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What is an elastic collision?.
- A.A collision where kinetic energy is conserved
- B.A collision where momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not
- C.A collision that results in permanent deformation
- D.A collision that occurs at high speeds
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- A collision where kinetic energy is conserved
Explanation
Why this works
An elastic collision is defined as one where both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. The key difference from inelastic collisions is that inelastic collisions do not conserve kinetic energy.
Elastic collisions apply in scenarios such as gas molecule interactions or idealized physics problems. Therefore, the correct option highlights the conservation of kinetic energy.
Common mistake
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