Inelastic Collision Conservation Laws

Steps:

• Deep space implies no external forces, so total momentum is conserved by Newton's third law.
• Inelastic collision means objects stick or deform, converting kinetic energy to heat or deformation.
• Total momentum before collision equals total momentum after.
• Total kinetic energy decreases due to energy transformation.

Why C is correct:

• Conservation of momentum holds in isolated systems (no external forces), while inelastic collisions reduce kinetic energy per the definition where KE is not conserved.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Kinetic energy is reduced, not conserved, in inelastic collisions.
• B: Momentum is conserved, not reduced.
• D: Momentum is conserved, not reduced.

Final answer: C