Definition
What Makes a Collision Elastic?
Elastic: \(\vec P\) conserved and \(K\) conserved for the system.
- Momentum conservation
- Kinetic energy conservation
- Idealized model
Momentum & Collisions · Physics
Elastic Collisions
Elastic collisions conserve both momentum and kinetic energy.
This topic includes
Subtopics to master
Use conservation laws to solve for final velocities in 1D and 2D elastic collisions.
Two laws
Momentum + Kinetic Energy Together
Two conservation equations determine unknown final speeds in many setups.
- Two equations
- Two unknowns
- Strategy for solving
1D
One-Dimensional Elastic Collisions
Head-on collisions solved using conservation laws (and optionally relative-speed ideas).
- Sign conventions
- Common special cases
- Checks for reasonableness
2D
Two-Dimensional Elastic Collisions
Conserve momentum in components; energy conservation adds an extra constraint.
- Vector components
- Angles and scattering
- Unknowns counting
Practice
Practice & Exercises
Master elastic collision solving with structured practice.
- 1D two-body problems
- Energy + momentum checks
- 2D component setups
- Scattering-style questions
- Concept quizzes