What is the outcome of an elastic collision?

• A. Momentum is lost
• B. Kinetic energy is conserved
• C. Additional forces are generated
• D. Objects stick together

Answer: (B)

In an elastic collision, one of the defining characteristics is that kinetic energy is conserved throughout the interaction. This means that the total kinetic energy of the system before the collision is equal to the total kinetic energy after the collision. The objects involved in an elastic collision do not undergo any permanent deformation or generate additional forces that would convert kinetic energy into other forms of energy, such as sound or heat, unlike in inelastic collisions.

This conservation of kinetic energy is crucial as it indicates that the objects remain separate after the collision, allowing them to bounce off each other without losing speed due to energy dissipation. Therefore, the result of an elastic collision highlights the importance of kinetic energy in the system and emphasizes that all initial motion is retained among the objects post-collision.