Coefficient of Restitution
Classical Mechanics
Level
1
What is the coefficient of restitution for a perfectly inelastic collision?
The answer is 0.
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1 solution
Let e denote the coefficient of restitution. During collision of two bodies, e is defined as , velocity of separation=e*(velocity of approach) (here the velocities concerned are of course of the two bodies undergoing collision). For an inelastic collision, velocity of seperation=0. (Bodies collide and move with the same velociy). Thus e=0.