If a two-body collision is not head-on,then we may always assume that:
A)momentum is conserved.
B)kinetic energy is conserved.
C)neither momentum nor kinetic energy are conserved.
D)both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The conservation of momentum holds even if the collision is not head-on, because momentum is a vector quantity that takes into account both magnitude and direction. However, the conservation of kinetic energy typically only holds for head-on collisions, since in other cases some of the kinetic energy may be converted into other forms of energy such as heat, sound, or deformation. Therefore, option B and C can be eliminated. Option D is incorrect because although momentum is conserved, kinetic energy may not necessarily be conserved. Hence, the correct choice is A.

If a Two-Body Collision Is Not Head-On,then We May Always