Question

In an elastic collision of two particles the following is conserved.
A. Momentum of each particle
B. Speed of each particle
C. Kinetic energy of each particle
D. Total kinetic energy of both the particle

Answer 1

Hint: When two objects collide, this is referred to as a collision. Before and after a collision, all collisions have the same momentum. Collisions are divided into two parts: elastic and inelastic collisions. In an elastic collision total momentum and kinetic energy of both the particles is conserved.

Complete step by step solution:
An elastic collision is one in which it is observed that both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. This suggests that there is no dissipative force at work during the collision and that all of the kinetic energy of the objects prior to the collision is retained thereafter. There is always some dissipation for macroscopic objects that collide, and they are never totally elastic. Collisions between strong steel balls, such as those used in the swinging balls apparatus, are almost elastic.

Elastic collisions are "collisions" in which the objects do not collide, such as Rutherford scattering or the slingshot orbit of a satellite off a planet. Collisions in atomic or nuclear scattering are often elastic because the repulsive Coulomb force keeps the particles from colliding. Collisions in ideal gases are virtually elastic, which is utilised to generate formulations for gas pressure in a container.

Hence, option D is the correct answer.

Note: Collisions in ideal gases, as well as scattering interactions of subatomic particles deflected by the electromagnetic force, approach fully elastic collisions. Some large-scale interactions, like gravitational interactions between satellites and planets, are completely elastic. Collisions between hard spheres can be almost elastic, hence calculating the limiting case of an elastic collision is useful.