COLLISIONS BETWEEN TWO LABORATORY TROLLEYS

Elastic Collision

Here we have a head-on elastic collision between two laboratory trollies of equal mass. No energy is lost in this ideal collision. The direction of motion of each trolly is simply reversed. Theoretically speaking, this is equivalent to multiplying each velocity by -1.

Elastic Collision with a Stationary Trolley

Here we have an elastic collision. Once again, the trollies are of equal mass, but this time the first trolly collides with a stationary trolly. Onceagain, no energy is lost, but in this example all the energy (kinetic) of the first trolley, is given to the second one. The first one is brought to rest by the collision, while the second one moves off with the same velocity that the first one had.
Note: The stationary trolly is repositioned after each collision, to prevent the collision point from regressing towards the left of the picture.

Inelastic Collision

Finally, we have an inelastic collision between two trollies of equal mass. As in the last example, the second trolly is initially stationary, but the collision is now totally inelastic, so that the two trollies 'stick' together, and move off with with only half the velocity of the initial moving trolly. There is an apprecable loss of kinetic energy is this type of collision. The lost kinetic energy is transformed mainly into heat energy, plus a little sound energy.