Answer – Yes, momentum is conserved in an inelastic collision.
Explanation:
Collisions can either be elastic or inelastic.
Elastic collisions are those where both kinetic energy and momentum are conserved. For example, consider two objects approaching one another at the same speed; they collide and bounce off of one another without any loss of speed or energy. This is not possible in everyday life as some energy is always lost in a collision. The total momentum before and after the collision, however, always remains the same.
Inelastic collisions, on the other hand, are those during which kinetic energy is lost but momentum is conserved. The lost kinetic energy is often converted into sound or heat or may lead to the distortion of the objects; further, the total momentum before and after collision remains the same and, thus, momentum is conserved.
Similar to perfectly elastic collisions, perfectly inelastic collisions (where a maximum amount of energy is lost) are also not a reality in everyday life. Most collisions are usually between perfectly elastic and perfectly inelastic.
