Differences

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--- 183_notes:colliding_systems [2021/04/01 02:00] – [Collisions & Conservation of Momentum & Energy] stumptyl
+++ 183_notes:colliding_systems [2021/04/01 02:00] – [Elastic Collisions] stumptyl
@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 In this case, the interaction between these two objects is due to their electrical interaction. They repel each other. As the atoms get closer together, the electric force gets larger and larger. This interaction is brief, but would cause the nuclei to change their individual momenta (the total remains the same) because of the large forces involved. This is a collision, but the nuclei are never in physical contact.
-==== Elastic Collisions ====
+===== Elastic Collisions =====
-An collision is called ``elastic'' if the internal energy of the system doesn't change. That is, before and after the collision the system experiences no new deformations (i.e., no new compressions of atomic bonds), no new rotations or vibrations, and no thermal energy changes (i.e., no new increased random motion of atoms).
+A collision is called ``elastic'' if the internal energy of the system doesn't change. That is, before and after the collision the system experiences no new deformations (i.e., no new compressions of atomic bonds), no new rotations or vibrations, and no thermal energy changes (i.e., no new increased random motion of atoms).
 In this case, the system conserves kinetic energy during the collision.