elastic collision

also contains definition of: inelastic collision
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.E01915
A particle (atom or molecule) can undergo a change in its state of excitation as a result of collisions with other particles. In an elastic collision an exchange only of kinetic energy takes place between the colliding species; in an inelastic collision there is an interchange between the kinetic energy and the internal energy of the particle.
Source:
PAC, 1996, 68, 149. (A glossary of terms used in chemical kinetics, including reaction dynamics (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)) on page 159 [Terms] [Paper]
Citation: 'elastic collision' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.E01915 RIS BibTex EndNote
Div. IPDFTextXMLJSON
Last revised: February 24, 2014