A student sets up an experiment to investigate a collision between two vehicles on a frictionless air track - Scottish Highers Physics - Question 3 - 2018

To determine if the collision was elastic or inelastic, the student can compare the total kinetic energy before and after the collision.

1. Calculate the total kinetic energy before the collision:

   • For vehicle X:
     $KE_X = \frac{1}{2} m v^2 = \frac{1}{2} (0.75)(0.30^2)$
   • For vehicle Y:
     $KE_Y = \frac{1}{2} m v^2 = \frac{1}{2} (0.50)(0.30^2)$
   • Total KE before = $KE_X + KE_Y$

2. Calculate total kinetic energy after the collision:

   • Use the final velocities of both vehicles.

3. If the total kinetic energy after the collision is equal to the total kinetic energy before, the collision is elastic.

   • If the total kinetic energy after is less than that before, the collision is inelastic.