A blob of clay is thrown at a basketball while it's in the air, and the clay sticks to the basketball. What is true about the momentum and energy of this system before and after this collision? If more than one response is correct, select all correct responses to get credit for this question.

a. Momentum is conserved

b. Kinetic energy is conserved

c. Some kinetic energy is converted into thermal energy

d. Total energy is conserved

- Momentum is conserved

- Some kinetic energy is converted into thermal energy

Explanation:

Collision occurs when an object exert force on another. Collision can either be elastic or inelastic depending on whether the bodies stick together or separates after collision.

For elastic collision, the bodies separates after collision and due to this both their momentum and energy are conserved. Both separated object doesn't loose energy as such during collision and they possesses greater momentum.

In inelastic collision, the bodies stick together after collision. Their momentum is conserved but not their kinetic energy since they are not free to move independently.

Based on the question, the type of collision that occur is an inelastic collision since they stick together in air after collision. Some of the kinetic energy of the particles are turned into vibrational energy of the atoms leading to heating effect. Based on this, the following are true

- Their momentum before and after collision is conserved

- Some kinetic energy is converted into thermal energy (heat)