Is mechanical energy conserved in an inelastic collision

Conservation of energy

10-13-99

Sections 6.5 - 6.8

The conservation of mechanical energy

Mechanical energy is the sum of the potential and kinetic energies in a system.

Is mechanical energy conserved when there is friction

Is mechanical energy conserved when there is friction

Conservation of mechanical energy worksheet

Conservation of mechanical energy pdf

Conservation of mechanical energy formula

Conservation of mechanical energy examples

The principle of the conservation of mechanical energy states that the total mechanical energy in a system (i.e., the sum of the potential plus kinetic energies) remains constant as long as the only forces acting are conservative forces.

We could use a circular definition and say that a conservative force as a force which doesn't change the total mechanical energy, which is true, but might shed much light on what it means.

A good way to think of conservative forces is to consider what happens on a round trip.

If the kinetic energy is the same after a round trip, the force is a conservative force, or at least is acting as a conservative force.

When is mechanical energy conserved in collisions

Consider gravity; you throw a ball straight up, and it leaves your hand with a certain amount of kinetic energy. At the top of its path, it has no kinetic energy, but it has a potential energy equal to the kinetic energy it had when it left your hand.

When you catch it

when is kinetic energy conserved in a collision

when is kinetic energy conserved during an elastic collision