What characterizes an elastic collision?

An elastic collision is characterized by no net loss of total kinetic energy in the system. This means that the total kinetic energy before the collision is equal to the total kinetic energy after the collision. During an elastic collision, the objects bounce off each other without any deformation or generation of heat, which distinguishes it from other types of collisions.

In such collisions, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved, allowing the objects to retain their kinetic energy throughout the interaction. This type of collision occurs in idealized systems and is often observed in atomic and molecular interactions, as well as in certain macroscopic situations under very controlled conditions.

The other options do not align with the definition of an elastic collision, as they reference scenarios typically found in inelastic collisions, where kinetic energy is transformed into other forms of energy, objects may stick together, or heat may be generated.