elastic collision

1. A collision in which both kinetic energy and momentum are conserved (physics)
2. A collision in which the bombarding particle does not excite or break up the struck nucleus, and is simply scattered, the process being termed elastic scattering (nuclear industry)

inelastic collision

1. A collision in which momentum, but not kinetic energy, is conserved (physics)
2. A collision in which there is a change in the total energies of the particles involved, the resultant scattering being termed inelastic scattering (nuclear industry)

elastic /i-lasˈtik or -läsˈ/

1. Having a tendency or the ability to recover the original form or size after stretching, compression or deformation
2. Springy or resilient
3. Able to recover quickly a former state or condition, eg after a shock (figurative)
4. Stretchy
5. Flexible
6. Capable of stretching to include a large number or amount (lit and figurative)
7. Made of elastic
8. (of the demand for a product) highly sensitive to fluctuations in price

A string or ribbon woven with rubber strands

elasˈtance noun (physics)

The reciprocal of the capacity of a condenser, from its electromechanical analogy with a spring

elasˈtane noun

A synthetic fibre used in the manufacture of esp underwear, hosiery, etc for its ability to recover its original form after stretching

elasˈtase noun

An enzyme found in the pancreatic juice that decomposes elastin

elasˈtically adverb

elasˈticate transitive verb

To make elastic

elasˈticated adjective

elasticity /ēl- or el-əs-tisˈi-ti/ noun

1. Power of returning to its original form or size after stretching, compression or deformation
2. Springiness, flexibility, resilience or stretchiness
3. Power to recover from shock, depression, etc, or financial restraint
4. The extent to which the demand for a product is sensitive to fluctuations in price

elasˈticize or elasˈticise /-ti-sīz/ transitive verb

To make elastic

elasˈticness noun

elasˈtin noun

A protein, the chief constituent of elastic tissue

elasˈtomer noun

Any rubber-like substance

elastomeric /-merˈ/ adjective

elastic band noun

A narrow strip of rubber formed into a loop for holding objects together, etc (also called rubber band)

elastic collision or elastic scattering see under collide

elastic limit noun

The greatest stress a material can be subjected to without permanent deformation

elastic tissue noun

Tissue having fibres with elastic quality, occurring esp in ligaments and tendons

scatter /skatˈər/

1. To disperse
2. To throw loosely about
3. To strew
4. To sprinkle
5. To dispel
6. To reflect or disperse irregularly (waves or particles)

1. To disperse
2. To fire shot loosely

1. A scattering
2. A sprinkling
3. Dispersion
4. The extent of scattering

scattˈerable adjective

scattˈered adjective

1. Dispersed irregularly, widely, in all directions, or here and there
2. Thrown about
3. Casually dropped (archaic)
4. (of one's thoughts, etc) distracted

scattˈeredly /-ərd-li/ adverb

scattˈerer noun

scattˈering noun

1. Dispersion
2. That which is scattered
3. A small proportion occurring sporadically
4. The deflection of the path of subatomic particles as a result of collisions with other particles or atoms (physics)
5. The deflection of light by the fine particles of solid, liquid or gaseous matter, from the main direction of the beam (physics)
6. The deflection of radiation resulting from interactions between the photons radiated and the nuclei or electrons in the material through which the radiation is passing, or with another radiation field (physics)

scattˈeringly adverb

scattˈerling noun (archaic)

A vagrant

scatteromˈeter noun

An instrument carried in a meteorological satellite for measuring the backscatter of light from the surface of the sea, used to gather information on wind speed

scattˈery adjective

1. Dispersed
2. Sparse
3. Giving an effect of scattering

scattˈerbrain noun

Someone incapable of sustained attention or thought

scattˈerbrained adjective

scatter diagram noun

A graph plotting two variables, with axes at right angles to one another

scattˈergood noun

A spendthrift

scattˈer-gun noun

A shotgun

scattering matrix noun (physics)

A matrix in which particles that result from high-energy collisions are made to scatter in various directions (also Sˈ-matrix)

scatter rugs, scatter cushions plural noun

Small rugs and cushions which can be placed anywhere in a room

scattˈershot adjective

Random, indiscriminate and wide-ranging, like shot fired from a gun

elastic scattering see elastic collision under collide

inelastic scattering see inelastic collision under collide