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The source defines internal kinetic energy for a system of colliding objects. What is it?
AThe heat energy released during the collision itself
BThe kinetic energy of the system's center of mass alone
CThe potential energy stored in the objects before the collision
DThe sum of the kinetic energies of the objects in the system
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. The sum of the kinetic energies of the objects in the system
1. The source defines this term right alongside the definition of an elastic collision.
2. Internal kinetic energy is the sum of the kinetic energies of the objects in the system.
3. This is not restricted to the center of mass motion alone, nor is it a form of stored potential energy.
4. Heat released during a collision is instead energy that leaves the internal kinetic energy budget in an inelastic collision, not a definition of internal kinetic energy itself.
_Source: OpenStax College Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 8 "Linear Momentum and Collisions", section 8.4 Elastic Collisions in One Dimension_
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