Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam Practice 2025 – Comprehensive Prep

In the context of gas behavior, 'elastic collisions' specifically refer to the scenario where the total kinetic energy of the particles involved in the collision remains constant before and after they collide. This means that when gas particles collide with one another, they do so in a manner that allows them to transfer energy without losing any energy to deformation or heat. This preservation of kinetic energy is a fundamental characteristic of ideal gases, which are often considered in gas laws and kinetic molecular theory.

While the other options describe different types of interactions—such as sticking together, losing energy, or lacking any interaction—none of these accurately reflect the behavior of elastic collisions in ideal gases, where energy conservation is key. Understanding the concept of elastic collisions is essential because it helps to explain the behavior of gases under various conditions and is foundational in predicting how gas particles will move and interact in different environments.