3. In a perfectly inelastic collision which of the following is conserved, (give the most accurate answer).
a.) Linear momentum
b.) Kinetic energy
c.) Linear momentum
d.) Total mechanical energy, (KE +PE)
e.) Heat energy
In a perfectly inelastic collision, the most accurate answer is a.) Linear momentum.
To understand why, let's first define what a perfectly inelastic collision is. In a perfectly inelastic collision, two objects collide and stick together, resulting in a loss of kinetic energy. The objects become one and move together as a single mass.
Now, let's consider the conservation principles involved in this type of collision. In a perfectly inelastic collision, there is a conservation of linear momentum and a loss of kinetic energy.
Linear momentum is defined as the product of mass and velocity. According to the law of conservation of linear momentum, the total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision. This means that the sum of the linear momenta of the two objects before the collision is equal to the linear momentum of the combined object after the collision.
On the other hand, kinetic energy is the energy due to an object's motion and is given by 1/2 * mass * velocity squared. In a perfectly inelastic collision, kinetic energy is not conserved because some of it is lost during the collision due to the deformation or other forms of energy dissipation.
Therefore, in a perfectly inelastic collision, linear momentum is conserved while kinetic energy is not. So, the most accurate answer to the question is a.) Linear momentum.