Nano PHYSICS . MECHANICS . MOMENTUM AND COLLISIONS . PERFECTLY INELASTIC COLLISIONS

Energy Dissipation

Kinetic energy is not conserved in a perfectly inelastic collision. Compute the loss to understand where the energy went.

Physics · Mechanics · Momentum and Collisions · Perfectly Inelastic Collisions · Energy Dissipation
Access for this nano-lesson
Unsigned visitors can show & copy prompts for Steps 1-3. Signed-in free accounts can also Run with AI for Steps 1-2. Paid accounts unlock everything (Steps 1-6 + Help prompts + AI).
Steps 1-3 Free Steps 4-6 Paid
STEP 1
Orient: energy dissipation
Free
Establish perfectly inelastic collisions as sticking interactions with one shared final velocity.
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Goal: define a perfectly inelastic collision using sticking behavior, shared final velocity, and model assumptions.
STEP 2
Conceptual grounding: build the sticking-collision model
Free
Build a workflow for systems, signs, combined mass, shared velocity, and energy-loss interpretation.
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Goal: use momentum conservation to find shared final velocity when external impulse is negligible.
STEP 3
Real-world connection: interpret shared velocity and energy loss
Free
Apply perfectly inelastic collision reasoning to carts, clay, bullet-block, skaters, and realistic deformation cases.
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Goal: explain why kinetic energy decreases and how energy becomes heat, sound, deformation, or internal energy.
STEP 4
Check your understanding: diagnostic mini-quiz
Paid
Attempt each question before revealing the sticking-collision reasoning.
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Goal: identify and correct conservation-law, combined-mass, sign, shared-velocity, and energy-loss errors before they become calculation errors.
STEP 5
Practice: solve increasingly rich sticking-collision situations
Paid
Apply the model to situations that grow in complexity.
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Goal: write concise, physically justified perfectly inelastic collision calculations and explanations.
STEP 6
Summary & reflection + explorations
Paid
Consolidate the model and explore changing masses, speeds, directions, sticking assumptions, and energy dissipation.
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🔒 ▶ Explore interactive simulation
Goal: carry the model forward into collision classification, center-of-mass motion, energy dissipation, and realistic collision models.