Two smooth spheres collide along a straight line. Sphere P has mass 1.0kg and initial speed 4.0ms−1, while sphere Q has mass 2.0kg and initial speed 1.0ms−1 in the same direction as P. After the impact their speeds are observed to be 2.0ms−1 (sphere P) and 2.5ms−1 (sphere Q), both along the original line of motion.
(a) Verify whether linear momentum of the two-sphere system is conserved during the collision.
(b) Calculate the coefficient of restitution for the impact.
(c) Classify the collision as elastic, inelastic, or perfectly inelastic.