Two objects of equal mass traveling toward each other with equal speeds undergo a head on collision. Which one of the following statements concerning their velocities after the collision is necessarily true?
A)They will exchange velocities.
B)Their velocities will be reduced.
C)Their velocities will be unchanged.
D)Their velocities will be zero.
E)Their velocities may be zero.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a perfectly inelastic collision, the objects could come to rest, making their velocities zero. However, without knowing the type of collision (elastic or inelastic), we cannot definitively say what their velocities will be, except that they may be zero in the case of a perfectly inelastic collision.

Two Objects of Equal Mass Traveling Toward Each Other with Equal