Re: [Phys-l] Interactive Physics Simulations

["Kilmer, Skip" <kilmers@greenhill.org>]

I thought it was one in which no kinetic energy is conserved in the c.o.m. frame of reference.
skip

-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
[mailto:phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu]On Behalf Of Rick
Tarara
Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2006 9:36 AM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Interactive Physics Simulations


I maybe haven't read this thread carefully enough, but could someone define 
what a 'totally' inelastic collision actually is?  In my mind, an elastic 
collision conserves both momentum and kinetic energy while an inelastic 
collision conserves momentum but not KE.  It's the 'totally' that is 
confusing me here.

Rick

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Mallinckrodt" <ajm@csupomona.edu>
To: "Forum for Physics Educators" <phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu>
Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2006 10:21 AM
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Interactive Physics Simulations


> Hugh wrote:
>
> > Of course, modeling a "real" inelastic collision is not simple, since
> > it necessarily involved distortion of the colliding objects and a
> > certain amount of microscopic intermingling to keep them together
> > and the collision time is relatively longer than with an inelastic
> > collision. But IP treated inelastic colisions in a fairly
> > simple-minded way, and I know that if I didn't do something
> > "unphysical" in constructing the collision, the two objects would
> > gradually drift apart, and this was especially true if one of the
> > objects was rotating.
>
> I think there has been some confusion in this thread engendered by
> conflating "inelastic collision" with "sticking."  No "intermingling"
> is required for an inelastic collision, but it may be for
> "sticking."  Except in the most special of cases--e.g., head-on
> collisions between nonrotating objects--colliding objects WILL move
> away from each other after a totally inelastic collision unless they
> ALSO "stick."
>
> John Mallinckrodt

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