WAEC Physics 2020 Objective — Question 1

Question 1 of 50 from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Physics 2020 Objective paper, with the correct answer and a full explanation.

In a collision between two objects, kinetic energy is conserved only if

A. one of the objects was initially at rest
B. potential energy is converted to work
C. the collision is inelastic
D. the collision is elasticCorrect

Explanation

An elastic collision is one in which the total kinetic energy of the colliding systems does not change after collision, i.e. there is no net conversion of energy into other forms. Both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. An inelastic collision is one in which there is a loss of kinetic energy while momentum of the colliding systems is conserved.

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