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How do we prove that the energy of two balls colliding is still perfectly conserved?
In physics, collisions are crucial to our understanding of motion and the transformation of energy. Especially in the case of small ball collisions, whether energy is perfectly conserved is a question that concerns many students and scientists. In this article, we will explore the properties of small ball collisions and try to explain why, under ideal conditions, their total kinetic energy remains the same.
Definition of elastic collision
When two objects collide elastically, their total kinetic energy remains the same before and after the collision. Ideally, such collisions would not convert kinetic energy into other forms of energy, such as heat, sound, or potential energy. This phenomenon is particularly evident in microscopic particle collisions, such as when atoms collide.
At the microscopic level, collisions between particles are elastic in most cases, but in the macroscopic world, it is difficult to achieve perfectly elastic collisions.
A practical example of elastic collision
Suppose there are two small balls, A and B, with masses 3 kg and 5 kg respectively, and their velocities before impact are 4 m/s and 0 m/s respectively. After the collision, A's speed becomes -1 m/s, while B's speed becomes 3 m/s. In this case, we can observe the change in kinetic energy after the collision.
In this example, we can clearly see that the sum of the kinetic energies of the two balls does not change before and after the collision, which confirms the principle of energy conservation.
Principle of conservation of energy
The law of conservation of momentum tells us that when two objects collide without the action of external forces, their total momentum is equal before and after the collision. In an elastic collision, in addition to conservation of momentum, we can also say that the total kinetic energy is also conserved. Here we will not use complex mathematical formulas, but understand the process through concepts.
Conclusion and reflection
Although perfect elastic collisions are rarely seen in daily life. For example, the collision between billiard balls can be approximated as elastic collisions. In fact, we can still rely on these theories to predict and explain when studying physical processes. Phenomenon. Through these examples, we understand how energy is conserved under what circumstances. However, what factors can better ensure the conservation of kinetic energy?
