What is the consequence of two objects colliding elastically?

In an elastic collision, two objects collide and bounce off each other without any loss of kinetic energy. This means that the total kinetic energy of the two objects before the collision is equal to the total kinetic energy after the collision.

In addition to the conservation of kinetic energy, elastic collisions also adhere to the principle of conservation of momentum. Momentum is the product of mass and velocity, and it must remain constant in a closed system unless acted upon by an external force. Therefore, in an elastic collision, the total momentum of the two colliding objects before the impact is equal to the total momentum after the impact.

This principle is fundamental in physics and is vital for calculations involving collisions and interactions between moving objects, ensuring that the overall behavior of the system remains predictable and consistent. The other choices do not align with the characteristics of elastic collisions; for instance, converting energy to potential energy does not occur in these interactions, friction does not stop motion in an ideal elastic scenario, and it is not guaranteed that one object will stop completely while the other continues unless specific conditions are met.