Question

a car bumps into a garbage can and pushes it down the driveway. why is this considered an inelastic collision? (1 point)
kinetic energy is conserved between the car and the trash can.
momentum is not conserved between the trash can and the car.
kinetic energy is transferred to potential energy during the collision.
kinetic energy is transferred to sound and heat energy and energy to possibly deform the garbage can.

Explanation:

In an inelastic collision, kinetic energy is not conserved. Some of it is lost. Here, when the car bumps into the garbage can, kinetic energy is transferred to sound (the bump sound), heat (due to friction, etc.), and possibly to deform the garbage can. In elastic collisions, kinetic energy is conserved. Momentum is conserved in both elastic and inelastic collisions (as long as there is no external force). Kinetic energy being transferred to potential energy is not the characteristic of an inelastic collision in this context.

Answer:

Kinetic energy is transferred to sound and heat energy and energy to possibly deform the garbage can.