Elastic - total kinetic energy in the collision is conserved
Inelastic - total kinetic energy in the collision is not conserved. Some of it is transformed into other types of energy, e.g. heat, sound, light
When dealing with collisions we will be asked whether it is elastic or not.
A bear of $24.2kg$ is travelling east at $6.66ms^{-1}$. It is an evil bear, of course, and it collides with something sticky and disgusting(Dr Waters does not know what this is) which has a mass of $8.47kg$ and is travelling west(must say west, or else will be 'wilfully misinterpreted') at $7.77ms^{-1}$. They confused to form a sticky, disgusting bear mass thing.
a) What is the final velocity of the s.d.b.m.t
b) Show by calculations whether the collision was elastic or inelastic, and justify your answer.
