🛒 Two carts collide — momentum always survives, energy only if e = 1
Two carts meet on a frictionless rail. Total momentum p is conserved in every collision; kinetic energy KE is conserved only when the restitution e equals 1.
Walkthrough
1 / 4
Step 1 — the carts approach each other.
Restitution e
1.00
Mass m₁
2.0
kg
Mass m₂
1.0
kg
p
before
=
0
· p
after
=
0
kg·m/s
KE
before
=
0
· KE
after
=
0
J
v₁ =
0
· v₂ =
0
m/s
p always conserved
KE conserved only at e = 1
Animation speed
1.0×
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