What is conserved during elastic collisions?

In elastic collisions, both kinetic energy and momentum are conserved. However, the primary characteristic that sets elastic collisions apart from other types, such as inelastic collisions, is the conservation of kinetic energy. That means the total kinetic energy of the system before the collision is equal to the total kinetic energy of the system after the collision. This conservation occurs because, in elastic collisions, there is no conversion of kinetic energy into other forms of energy, like thermal energy or potential energy.

Momentum conservation holds true for all types of collisions, including elastic and inelastic, but since the question specifically asks about what is conserved in elastic collisions, the focus on kinetic energy is crucial. In contrast, potential energy is not commonly a concern in collision scenarios unless dealing with specific forces or fields, while thermal energy changes may occur due to friction or deformation in inelastic collisions, but these are not relevant in elastic collisions. Therefore, the key point is that, in elastic collisions, the total kinetic energy remains constant throughout the interaction.