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AP Physics 1
4.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
4.3 Conservation of Linear Momentum
IntermediateMCQMathematicalConceptual19.8k
Apparatus for Trial 1 and Trial 2 collisions on a frictionless track.
Apparatus for Trial 1 and Trial 2 collisions on a frictionless track.
Cart 1 of mass \(m\) moves with initial speed \(v_0\) and kinetic energy \(K_0\) along a horizontal, frictionless track toward an identical Cart 2 that is initially at rest. In Trial 1, the carts undergo a head-on, perfectly elastic collision. In Trial 2, the identical carts are used under identical initial conditions, but they stick together upon colliding in a completely inelastic collision.

Total Final Momentum of SystemKinetic Energy Converted to Other Forms in Trial 2
Row A\(p_{\text{elastic}} > p_{\text{inelastic}}\)\(\dfrac{1}{2}K_0\)
Row B\(p_{\text{elastic}} = p_{\text{inelastic}}\)\(\dfrac{1}{2}K_0\)
Row C\(p_{\text{elastic}} > p_{\text{inelastic}}\)\(0\)
Row D\(p_{\text{elastic}} = p_{\text{inelastic}}\)\(0\)

Which row in the table correctly compares the magnitude of the total final linear momentum of the two-cart system for each trial (\(p_{\text{elastic}}\) and \(p_{\text{inelastic}}\)) and identifies the amount of mechanical kinetic energy converted to nonmechanical energy in Trial 2?

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