In any collision
A) total momentum is not conserved.
B) total kinetic energy is conserved.
C) total momentum is conserved.
D) total momentum is not conserved but total kinetic energy is conserved.
E) total momentum and total kinetic energy are conserved and the masses are equal.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the law of conservation of momentum, the total momentum of a closed system remains constant unless acted upon by external forces. In any collision, the momentum of the objects before the collision is equal to the momentum of the objects after the collision. However, the total kinetic energy may not be conserved in an inelastic collision where some of the energy is lost as heat or deformation of the objects involved. Therefore, the best choice is C.

In Any Collision