What type of collision conserves kinetic energy?

In the context of collisions, an elastic collision is defined by the property that both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. During an elastic collision, objects collide and bounce off each other without any deformation or generation of heat, meaning all energy is retained in the form of kinetic energy.

When analyzing the parameters of other types of collisions, such as inelastic and superelastic, we find that in elastic collisions, the total kinetic energy before and after the collision remains constant, which is not the case in the other types. In inelastic collisions, some kinetic energy is transformed into other forms of energy, like heat or sound, which leads to a decrease in the total kinetic energy observed. Meanwhile, superelastic collisions involve a similar process but with an additional input of energy, often leading to a net increase in kinetic energy. Only the elastic collision fulfills the conservation of kinetic energy in a straightforward manner, reinforcing why this option is the correct answer.