Dynamics: Impact and the Coefficient of Restitution

In mechanics, impact occurs when 2 bodies collide in a short period of time, causing large impulsive forces to be exerted between the bodies.

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In mechanics, impact does not cause any changes in the momentum and velocities of the colliding bodies.

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The changes in velocity caused by impact between the two colliding bodies can be characterised by the coefficient of restitution.

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In tennis, balls bounce slower and higher on clay courts as contrasted to grass courts, favouring players who play with a lot of topspin. One of the reasons is due to the difference in coefficients of restitution.

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Central impact occurs when the particle velocities are angled to the line of impact.

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The coefficient of restitution can be formulated as:

|Relative velocity after collision| / |Relative velocity before collision|

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It is normal for some kinetic energy to dissipate for collisions that happen in real-world situations.

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In general, the coefficient of restitution is valued between 2 and 1.

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