What is Elastic Collision?

"A perfectly elastic collision is one in which the sum of the kinetic energies of the centers of masses of the colliding objects is the same before and after the interaction."

Okay, quick question. What are the first thing you notice when you see someone playing pool? It's obvious that when they shoot one ball it hits against another one. Score! That's it!

Elastic Collisions are the encounter of two objects traveling with total kinetic energy that both before and after the intersection are equal to each other. The result of this type of collisions is the two objects bouncing off one and another to a different distance.

Now, let's put this knowledge to simpler terms. Two objects head on hit each other and boom! They bounced off each other with equal kinetic energy through both parts of the occurrence.

Think of bumper cars in a arcade place. You pick the purple one and your friend places herself in a shiny red one. Seat belts are on and the lights on the play area begins to flicker then game on! You put your foot on the pedal and drive forward and so does your friend. Bam! You both smash against each other but your friend is pushed to a distance.

That's how it is.

http://www.themcclungs.net/physics/download/H/Momentum/ElasticCollisions.pdf

In the game of pool, you have to push the pool ball with the playing stick. With the applied force, the ball with move to another one. The collision of the two balls causes them to bounce off. A perfect example of elastic collision.

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