Complete the sentence by putting a cross (✗) in the box next to your answer - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 3 - 2017 - Paper 1

Inelastic collisions are defined as collisions where the total kinetic energy of the system is not conserved. While momentum is conserved in all collisions, in an inelastic collision, some kinetic energy is transformed into other forms of energy, often resulting in deformation or heat.

In mathematical terms, while momentum before and after the collision remains the same:

$p_{initial} = p_{final}$

where $p$ represents momentum, the kinetic energy before the collision differs from kinetic energy after the collision:

eq KE_{final}$$ Thus, inelastic collisions result in a loss of kinetic energy, which may be accounted for by changes in internal energy or thermal energy.