Which of the following is an inelastic collision?

Question

A hockey puck colliding with the net.
A marble colliding with another marble.
A baseball bat hitting a ball.
A mosquito landing on someone’s arm.

Answer 1

An inelastic collision is one where kinetic energy is not conserved, although momentum is conserved. In the context of the examples provided:

1. A hockey puck colliding with the net: This might be somewhat inelastic since the puck does not rebound with the same speed as it hit the net.

2. A marble colliding with another marble: This generally represents an elastic collision if the marbles bounce off each other without losing energy.

3. A baseball bat hitting a ball: This is typically an inelastic collision, especially if the bat and ball become deformed upon impact or if energy is lost to sound and heat.

4. A mosquito landing on someone’s arm: This is a very low-energy interaction, but it doesn't really fit the definition of a collision in the same way.

Among these options, a baseball bat hitting a ball is typically the best example of an inelastic collision, as some kinetic energy is converted into other forms of energy during the impact.