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What does the source say defines an inelastic collision?
AOne where internal kinetic energy changes and is not conserved
BOne in which the momentum itself is not conserved
COne in which the two objects must always stick together
DOne that can only happen between subatomic particles
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. One where internal kinetic energy changes and is not conserved
1. The source draws a contrast with the elastic collisions covered in the previous section.
2. An inelastic collision is one in which the internal kinetic energy changes, meaning it is not conserved.
3. Momentum is still conserved in an inelastic collision as long as the system remains isolated, so that option is incorrect.
4. Sticking together describes only the perfectly inelastic special case, not every inelastic collision.
_Source: OpenStax College Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 8 "Linear Momentum and Collisions", section 8.5 Inelastic Collisions in One Dimension_
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