Two identical carts are set up to collide on a track in a physics classroom. Assume you may neglect friction between the carts and the track. Motion detectors are set up to measure the velocity of each cart both before and after the collision. The bumpers on the carts can be adjusted to change the elasticity of the collision. Three trials at different elasticity settings for the same initial velocities result in three different final conditions. In Trial A, the two carts come to rest as a result of the collision. In Trial B, the two carts bounce off each other and exchange velocities. In Trial C, the two carts bounce off each other and move with lower speeds than they had before the collision.
In a clear, coherent, paragraph-length response, identify the types of collisions associated with Trials A, B, and C. For each trial, describe the center-of-mass velocity before, during and after the collision. Also describe any energy changes during the interaction, clearly listing the objects in your system.