What happens in an inelastic collision?

In an inelastic collision, the defining characteristic is that total kinetic energy is not conserved, although momentum is. During such collisions, the colliding objects may deform and generate heat due to the work done in changing their shape, which is reflected in the increased heat generation. This heat generation occurs as the kinetic energy that is lost during the collision transforms into other forms of energy, primarily thermal energy.

Inelastic collisions typically involve objects sticking together or deforming significantly, which leads to energy being converted rather than merely transferred. This is different from elastic collisions, where both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved, allowing objects to bounce apart without distortion or heat generation.

The aspects of kinetic energy conservation, objects bouncing apart without deformation, and the speeds of objects being unchanged do not apply to inelastic collisions, highlighting the unique energy transformations that occur in this type of interaction.