Perfectly Inelastic Collision Energy Loss
A 3D animation shows a 2.0 kg sphere moving at 4.0 m/s striking a stationary 3.0 kg sphere, with both sticking together and moving as one 5.0 kg mass. Momentum conservation gives a combined velocity of 1.6 m/s, while kinetic energy calculations reveal 9.6 J lost to deformation and heat. Useful for physics students learning to distinguish momentum conservation from energy conservation in collision types.
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The prompt that made it
Scene 4: Perfectly Inelastic Collision ($e=0$) PracticeVisual Prompt: 3D animation of Sphere A ($2.0\text{ kg}$) moving right at $4.0\text{ m/s}$ colliding with stationary Sphere B ($3.0\text{ kg}$). They stick together ($e=0$) and move as a single $5.0\text{ kg}$ object. Math Overlay:Combined Velocity: $v' = \frac{2.0(4.0) + 3.0(0)}{2.0 + 3.0} = \frac{8.0}{5.0} = 1.6\text{ m/s}$. Initial $E_k = \frac{1}{2}(2.0)(4.0^2) = 16\text{ J}$. Final $E_k = \frac{1}{2}(5.0)(1.6^2) = 6.4\text{ J}$. Energy Lost = $16 - 6.4 = 9.6\text{ J}$. Text / Voiceover: "When objects lock together, maximum kinetic energy is lost! The combined mass moves at $1.6\text{ m/s}$, converting $9.6\text{ Joules}$ into deformation and heat."
Make the next one in this series
- Compare this same collision using e=1 for a perfectly elastic outcome.
- Show a collision with e=0.5 to illustrate partial energy loss.
- Animate a 2D inelastic collision with angled velocities to show vector momentum conservation.
