Collision in Physics

• Collision
• Elastic Collision
• Inelastic Collision
• Elastic Collision in one dimension
• Special Cases

Collision:

Collision is defined as the event of two particles colliding together for a short interval of time and thereby producing impulsive forces on each other. 

During any collision between two particles, momentum is always conserved.

Elastic Collision:

Collision between two particles is said to be Elastic if total Kinetic Energy (as well as total Momentum) remain conserved during collision i.e. it is the same before and after Collision. Collision between two Billiard Balls is an example of Elastic Collision.

Inelastic Collision:

Collision between two particles is said to be Inelastic if total Kinetic Energy is not the same before and after Collision. All natural Collisions are Inelastic Collisions.  When the colliding particles stick together after the Collision then it is called Perfectly Inelastic Collision.