What distinguishes an elastic collision from an inelastic collision?

In the context of collisions, the key distinction between elastic and inelastic collisions lies in the conservation of kinetic energy. In an elastic collision, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. This means that the total kinetic energy of the colliding bodies before the collision is equal to the total kinetic energy after the collision. This type of collision is often idealized, as it occurs in situations where no energy is lost to sound, heat, or deformation of the bodies involved.

On the other hand, in an inelastic collision, while momentum is still conserved, kinetic energy is not conserved. During an inelastic collision, some of the kinetic energy is transformed into other forms of energy, such as thermal energy or energy associated with deformation. This is commonly observed in everyday collisions, like a car crash, where the vehicles crumple and thermal energy is generated.

Understanding this distinction is crucial in solving problems related to momentum and energy in physics, as it affects the outcome of the collision in terms of how much kinetic energy remains within the system afterward. Thus, the statement that in an elastic collision, kinetic energy is conserved, while in an inelastic collision, it is not conserved accurately captures the essential difference between these two types of collisions.