In an elastic collision, the total kinetic energy of the colliding objects is conserved, while in an inelastic collision, some of the kinetic energy is lost as internal energy. In an elastic collision, the objects bounce off each other with no loss of energy, while in an inelastic collision, the objects stick together or deform. Examples of elastic collisions include the collision of two billiard balls, while examples of inelastic collisions include the collision of a car with a wall or the collision of a baseball bat with a baseball.\n
What is the difference between elastic and inelastic collisions?