Which of the following statements is true for an inelastic collision?

A. Both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved.
B. Momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not conserved.
C. Kinetic energy is conserved, but momentum is not conserved.
D. The amount of momentum lost by one object is the same as the amount gained by the other object.
E. The amount of kinetic energy lost by one object is the same as the amount gained by the other object.

The correct answer is B. Momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not conserved.

To understand why, let's break down each option and explain how we arrive at the correct answer.

A. Both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved.
In an inelastic collision, kinetic energy is usually not conserved. This is because some of the initial kinetic energy is converted into other forms of energy, such as heat or sound, during the collision. So, option A is incorrect.

B. Momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not conserved.
In an inelastic collision, momentum is always conserved. This means that the total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision. However, as mentioned earlier, some kinetic energy is converted into other forms of energy, so kinetic energy is not conserved. Therefore, option B is correct.

C. Kinetic energy is conserved, but momentum is not conserved.
This statement is incorrect for an inelastic collision. Kinetic energy is not conserved in an inelastic collision because some of it is converted into other forms of energy. Additionally, momentum is conserved in all collisions, including inelastic collisions. Therefore, option C is incorrect.

D. The amount of momentum lost by one object is the same as the amount gained by the other object.
This statement does not accurately describe an inelastic collision. In an inelastic collision, the total momentum is conserved, meaning that the sum of the momenta before the collision equals the sum of the momenta after the collision. However, the distribution of momentum between the objects can vary. They do not necessarily gain or lose the same amount of momentum. Therefore, option D is incorrect.

E. The amount of kinetic energy lost by one object is the same as the amount gained by the other object.
This statement does not hold true for an inelastic collision. In an inelastic collision, kinetic energy is not conserved. Some of the initial kinetic energy is converted into other forms of energy, and it may not be evenly distributed between the objects. Therefore, option E is incorrect.

To summarize, in an inelastic collision, momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not conserved.

The correct statement for an inelastic collision is B. Momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not conserved. In an inelastic collision, the total momentum of the system before and after the collision remains the same, but some of the kinetic energy is transformed into other forms of energy, such as heat or sound. Therefore, kinetic energy is not conserved in an inelastic collision.

Both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved