Two identical billiard balls of mass each collide head-on on a smooth table

PHYSICS · Subjective · CBSE · Physics · Work, Energy and Power · Work, Energy and Power

Problem

Two identical billiard balls of mass 0.20 kg0.20\,\text{kg} each collide head-on on a smooth table. Before impact, their speeds are 1.5 m s−11.5\,\text{m\,s}^{-1} and 0.50 m s−10.50\,\text{m\,s}^{-1} in opposite directions. After the collision, their speeds are 1.1 m s−11.1\,\text{m\,s}^{-1} and 0.90 m s−10.90\,\text{m\,s}^{-1}, still in opposite directions. Calculate whether the total kinetic energy of the two-ball system is conserved and hence state the nature of the collision.

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