Definition:Coefficient of Restitution

Definition

Let two solid bodies $B_1$ and $B_2$ be in collision.

Let the components of the relative velocities of $B_1$ and $B_2$ in the direction of their common normal be respectively:

$\mathbf u_1$ and $\mathbf u_2$ before the collision

$\mathbf v_1$ and $\mathbf v_2$ after the collision.

By Newton's Law of Restitution:

$\mathbf v_2 - \mathbf v_1 = -e \paren {\mathbf u_2 - \mathbf u_1}$

The coefficient $e$ is known as the coefficient of restitution.

Also see

• Results about the coefficient of restitution can be found here.

Sources

• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): coefficient of restitution
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): coefficient of restitution