Inelastic Collision Calculator

The Inelastic Collision Calculator helps users compute the final velocity, initial and final momentum, kinetic energies, and energy loss of two objects after a collision, based on their masses, initial velocities, and the type of collision.

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How to Use the Inelastic Collision Calculator

The Inelastic Collision Calculator is a tool designed to help you compute various parameters resulting from the collision of two objects. The guide below will walk you through the steps required to input your data and interpret the results.

Step 1: Enter the Mass of Object 1

  • Locate the field labeled Mass of Object 1 (kg).
  • Enter the mass of the first object in kilograms in the provided input box. Make sure the value is greater than or equal to 0.001 kg. The input will be rounded to the nearest 0.001 kg.

Step 2: Enter the Initial Velocity of Object 1

  • Proceed to the field labeled Initial Velocity of Object 1 (m/s).
  • Enter the initial velocity of the first object in meters per second. You can enter any value, which will be rounded to the nearest 0.01 m/s.

Step 3: Enter the Mass of Object 2

  • Move to the field labeled Mass of Object 2 (kg).
  • Enter the mass of the second object in kilograms. The value should be a minimum of 0.001 kg. This input will be adjusted to the nearest 0.001 kg.

Step 4: Enter the Initial Velocity of Object 2

  • Find the field labeled Initial Velocity of Object 2 (m/s).
  • Enter the initial velocity of the second object in meters per second. The calculator will round your entry to the nearest 0.01 m/s.

Step 5: Select the Type of Collision

  • In the field labeled Collision Type, select from the options available:

    • Perfectly Inelastic (e = 0): Represents a collision where the objects stick together post-collision.
    • Partially Inelastic (e = 0.25): Represents a collision with partial loss of kinetic energy.
    • Partially Inelastic (e = 0.5): Represents a collision with moderate elastic properties.
    • Partially Inelastic (e = 0.75): Represents a collision with mostly elastic properties.

Step 6: Interpret the Results

  • After inputting all the above data, the calculator will automatically compute and display the results:

    • Final Velocity: Displays the combined velocity of both objects after collision. It is calculated using the formula: (mass1 * velocity1 + mass2 * velocity2) / (mass1 + mass2). This value is expressed in m/s.
    • Initial Momentum: Shows the momentum of the system before the collision, calculated as mass1 * velocity1 + mass2 * velocity2. The output is in kg⋅m/s.
    • Final Momentum: Displays the momentum of the system post-collision using the formula: (mass1 + mass2) * finalVelocity.
    • Initial Kinetic Energy: The energy of the system before collision, calculated with 0.5 * mass1 * pow(velocity1, 2) + 0.5 * mass2 * pow(velocity2, 2). The result is shown in Joules (J).
    • Final Kinetic Energy: Provides the energy of the system after collision using 0.5 * (mass1 + mass2) * pow(finalVelocity, 2).
    • Energy Loss: This is the difference between initial and final kinetic energy, computed as kineticEnergyInitial – kineticEnergyFinal. This value is also displayed in Joules (J).

By following this guide, you should be able to effectively use the Inelastic Collision Calculator to analyze collision events and understand both the dynamics and energy changes involved.