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C Co ol ll li is si io on ns s
When two particles tend to each other, their motion changes or their momentum modify due to
their mutual interactions. This phenomenon is known collision. During collision (i) an impulse
performs on each colliding particle (ii) the total momentum of the particles keep conserved. The
collision is infecting a redistribution of total momentum of the object. Physical interaction is not
necessary for collision. Usually, the collisions are of two types:
(1) Elastic collision (2) Inelastic collision
1. Elastic collision: A collision is called elastic if kinetic energy is also conserved along with the
linear momentum. There is no transformation or loss of kinetic energy in this collision
Suppose two particles of masses m
1
and m
2
moving with velocities
1
u

and
2
u

respectively. They
interact and their velocities after the collision become
1
v

and
2
v

respectively.
By conservation of the linear momentum,
Total linear momentum before collision = Total linear
momentum after collision ,
1 1 2 2 1 1 2 2
m u +m u = m v +m v

or
, , 1 1 1 2 2 2
m u - v = m v - u

(1)
By conservation of kinetic energy,
Net kinetic energy before collision = Net kinetic energy after
interaction
2 2
1 1 2 2
1 1
mu + m u
2 2
=
2 2
1 1 2 2
1 1
m v + m v
2 2
or
, ,
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 2 2 2
m u - v = m v - u
(2)
'
1
u
'
2
u
1
u
2
u
v
2
v 1
v
'
1
v
'
2
v

)
During
collision
Long
before
collision
Long
after
collision
and only for linear collision or head on collision
On solving the above equation (1) and (2),
, 1 2 1 2
u - u = - v - v

(3)
i. e. Relative velocity before collision = Relative velocity after collision.
Thus in elastic collision, the relative velocity of tends to of particles before collision is same to the
relative velocity with which the particles recedes after collision. i.e. the value of relative velocity
keeps the same, but the direction is reversed.
On solving the equation (1) and (3) we get
1 2 2
1 1 2
1 2 1 2
m - m 2m
v = u + u
m +m m +m
| | | |

\ \
and
1 2 1
2 1 2
1 2 1 2
2m m - m
v = u + u
m +m m +m
| | | |

\ \
2. Inelastic collision: A collision in which the linear momentum is saved, but a part of kinetic
energy change into the other forms is known the inelastic collision. In different words, the kinetic
energy is not conserved. In this, the particles do not gain their size and shape completely after
collision. Some fraction of mechanical power is kept by the colliding bodies in the form of
deformation potential energy. However, in the absence of external tensions, law of conservation
of linear momentum still holds good.
Let two objects of masses m
1
and m
2
moving with initial velocities
1
u

and
2
u

Collide and travel with velocities

1
v

and
2
v

respectively after the collision. By relation of linear

momentum
, ,
1 1 2 2 1 1 2 2
1 1 1 2 2 2
m u +m u = m v +m v
or m u - v = m v - u

)
and by conservation of kinetic energy,
2 2
1 1 2 2
1 1
mu m u
2 2
+ =
2 2
1 1 2 2
1 1
m v m v
2 2
+ + E
Where E is the part of energy which modifies into the useless form due to inelastic collision;
For example, if two particles coalesce after collision and the combined system travel with a
velocity v

after the collision in same position, then

,
,
1 1 2 2
1 1 2 2 1 2
1 2
m u m u
m u m u m m v or v
m m
+
+ = + =
+
And loss in kinetic energy, ,
2 2 2
1 1 2 2 1 2
1 1 1
E = mu m u m m v
2 2 2
+ +
or
,
,
2
2 2 1 1 2 2
1 1 2 2
1 2
m u m u 1 1
E = m u m u
2 2 m m
| |
+
+

+
\
2 1 2
1 2
1 2
m m 1
(u u )
2 (m m )
=
+