When a speeding truck hits a stationary car, the car is deformed, and heat is generated. What can you say about the kinetic energy of the system after the collision?

The Kinetic energy was transformed immediately into potential and thermal energy.

Answered by Anonymous | 2024-06-10

Collisions as these are inelastic collisions. For inelastic collisions, the total momentum is conserved before and after the collision. The kinetic energy on the other hand is not conserved. This is because in most cases some of the energy is lost due friction in the form of heat.
Elastic collisions on the other hand generally have the total momentum and kinetic energy conserved before and after collision.
Thank you for reading.

Answered by akande212 | 2024-06-12

The kinetic energy of the system after the collision between the speeding truck and the stationary car is less than before due to the conversion of some kinetic energy into heat and sound during the impact. This process occurs because the collision is inelastic, leading to deformation of the vehicles. While kinetic energy is not conserved, momentum is conserved throughout the collision.
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Answered by akande212 | 2024-10-17