Open AccessIllusions of Elastic Collisions in the Sciences:
Author(s) -
Kent W. Mayhew
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
european journal of engineering research and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2506-8016
DOI - 10.24018/ejers.2020.5.1.1693
Subject(s) - illusion , elastic collision , kinetic theory , classical mechanics , lagrangian , inelastic collision , statistical mechanics , physics , statistical physics , theoretical physics , mechanics , quantum mechanics , psychology , neuroscience , electron
Employing elastic collisions rather than the reality of inelastic collisions simplifies much of the theoretical sciences. The consequences of such simplification is completely ignored/unrealized by the majority, hence must be addressed. At the crux of the problem is arguably the illusion of elastic collisions in kinetic theory, but this extends to other realms of physics including statistical theory, Lagrangian mechanics and the Navier-Stokes equations.