coefficient of restitution


coefficient of restitution

[¦kō·ə′fish·ənt əv ‚res·tə′tü·shən] (mechanics) The constant e, which is the ratio of the relative velocity of two elastic spheres after direct impact to that before impact; e can vary from 0 to 1, with 1 equivalent to an elastic collision and 0 equivalent to a perfectly elastic collision. Also known as restitution coefficient.