JEE Main Physics question

A ball hits the floor and rebounds after an inelastic collision. In this case [IIT JEE 1986]

(A)The momentum of the ball just after the collision is the same as that just before the collision
(B)The mechanical energy of the ball remains the same in the collision
(C)The total momentum of the ball and the earth is conservedCorrect
(D)The total energy of the ball and the earth is conservedCorrect

Answer: (C),(D)

Solution

Since the collision is inelastic, the ball's own momentum changes (its speed/direction change on rebound) and its mechanical energy decreases (some is lost as heat/sound) — so (A) and (B) are false for the ball alone. However, treating the ball+earth as an isolated system, the earth absorbs the momentum change (its

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Question ID VK-154157