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Is the total mechanical energy of bumper cars conserved?

April 26, 2017Bumper cars conserved energy mechanical total

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Is the total mechanical energy of bumper cars conserved?

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If you keep your foot on the floor you are adding energy all the time, but if two cars meet without drive engaged, the total energy before and after must balance. Of course kinetic energy can be absorbed by the car’s bodywork so the resultant kinetic energy will be altered by collisions. Some energy will also be absorbed by the floor and appear as heat due to friction.