A destroyer simultaneously fires two shells of equal mass in opposite directions. Assuming the destroyer is initially at rest and neglecting external forces, what type of collision best describes the interaction between the shells and the destroyer?

• A. Inelastic collision
• B. Perfectly elastic collision
• C. Explosion (a type of inelastic event where a single object breaks into multiple parts)
• D. Elastic collision

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the initial conditions: The destroyer is initially at rest, and it fires two shells simultaneously in opposite directions. This means the system starts as a single object (the destroyer with shells) at rest.
2. Understand the nature of the event: When the destroyer fires the shells, it breaks apart into multiple parts (the two shells and the destroyer recoiling). This is not a typical collision where two separate objects come together or bounce off each other.
3. Recall the definitions of collision types: An elastic collision conserves both kinetic energy and momentum; an inelastic collision conserves momentum but not kinetic energy; an explosion is a process where a single object breaks into multiple parts, converting internal energy into kinetic energy of the fragments.
4. Apply conservation laws: Since the destroyer and shells start as one object and then separate, momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy increases due to the internal energy released in firing the shells.
5. Conclude the classification: Because the event involves a single object breaking into multiple parts and an increase in kinetic energy from internal energy, this process is best described as an explosion, which is a type of inelastic event.