Re: Loss of KE

[bachman2 <bachman2@PRODIGY.NET>]

   The amount lost is the KE in the Center of Mass system,
where the equal masses come to rest.
  What would probably be differrent is the mechanism for bringing
them to rest.


----- Original Message -----
From: David Abineri <dabineri@CHOICE.NET>
To: <PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2002 10:43 PM
Subject: Loss of KE


> In an ideal inelastic collision (objects stick together) between two
> equal masses with one stationary initially, one half of the KE is lost
> (transferred to another form).  Why is it that this amount of lost KE
> does not depend on the materials of which the objects are made? It would
> seem that one should get different results if they were made of steel vs
> foam rubber for example.
>
> Is this simply because this is an ideal situation or is there more to it
> than this?
>
> Thanks for any insights,     David Abineri
>
>
>
> --
> David Abineri
> dabineri@choice.net
>
> This posting is the position of the writer, not that of SUNY-BSC, NAU or
the AAPT.

This posting is the position of the writer, not that of SUNY-BSC, NAU or the AAPT.