In an inelastic collision between two objects with unequal masses,

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Context: We’re looking at an inelastic collision between two objects with unequal masses. In such collisions, the system’s total momentum is conserved, while kinetic energy is not.

Option 1: "the total momentum of the system will increase." In an isolated collision, external forces are negligible, so momentum is conserved, not created. Therefore the total momentum should remain unchanged, not increase. This makes the option incorrect.

Option 2: "the momentum of one object will increase by the amount that the momentum of the other object decreases." During a collision, momentum is redistributed between the two objects while the sum stays constant. If one object gains momentum Δp, the other loses exactly the same amount, −Δp, so the net change balances. This description matches momentum conservation within the system and is thus correct.

Option 3: "the total momentum of the system will decrease." As just noted, momentum is conserved in the absence of external impulses, so the total remains the same. A decrease would imply an external impulse, which is not part of the typical isolated inelastic collision scenario. This makes the option incorrect.

Option 4: "the kinetic energy of one object will increase by the amount that the kinetic energy of the other object decreases." In inelastic collisions, total kinetic energy decreases because some energy is transformed into other forms (sound, deformation, heat). It’s not generally the case that one object’s KE increases by exactly the other’s decrease, and the statement describes a balanced transfer of kinetic energy that does not reflect the overall loss characteristic of inelastic collisions. This makes the option incorrect.

SPHY001 Practice Quiz - Unit 08 | LA048

In an inelastic collision between two objects with unequal masses,

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