What is the elastic scattering?
Elastic scattering occurs when two or more particles collide without any energy loss. This means that while particle directions may change, the overall kinetic energy of the system or movement energy is always maintained. The term elastic scattering is usually used in particle physics, which is the study of microscopic particles, but there may also be an elastic collision between macroscopic objects. An unelastic collision occurs when energy is lost during the collision. In the macroscopic world, when two objects collide, it is usually a physical collision. In particle physics, however, objects can collide through other forces, including electromagnetic collisions. Elastic collision may occur between any objects and in any type of collision.
The elastic scattering is very important in particle physics. For example, when electrons collide with other particles, the collision is elastic because no energy is lost. This is known as Rutherford Discatring and it is a phenomenon that has led to the discovery of the atom structure.
In the macroscopic or physical world, it is extremely unlikely that a real elastic collision would appear between two large objects. The reason is the surrounding force and vibrations that occur inside large objects. However, there are some situations where a collision can be approximated as elastic. This is useful because it allows the expected speed and direction of two objects after a collision to be estimated by simpler methods.
A common example of an elastic scattering in the physical world is a collision of two billiard balls. Although a small amount of energy is lost in this collision, it is small enough to be negligible. When two billiard balls are displayed, the second ball gets almost exactly the amount of energy that the first balls lose, so the overall kinetic energy of the system is maintained.
Neellastic scattering occurs when the total energy of two or more collizing objects is not fromACHHOVED. In collisions between objects in the real world, unelastic collisions are much more common. It is mainly due to other vibrations that occur when a large object collides with another, because these vibrations occupy energy that would be used for movement. Momentum, however, is always preserved in elastic and inflexible precipitation.