University Physics with Modern Physics (14th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321973615
ISBN 13: 978-0-32197-361-0

Chapter 8 - Momentum, Impulse, and Collision - Problems - Discussion Questions - Page 263: Q8.24

Answer

Only statement A is true.

Work Step by Step

The forces between the colliding clay pieces during the short collision time are much larger than any external forces, so we may treat the clay as an isolated system and the momentum is conserved. This is discussed on page 247. This is an example of a perfectly inelastic collision, so kinetic energy is not conserved, and mechanical energy is also not conserved.
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