total momentum is conserved.During the collision of the tennis balls, momentum transfers from one ball to another. The combined momentum of both balls is constant meaning that the loss in momentum of one is equal 
to the gain in momentum of the other balll.
to the gain in momentum of the other balll.Coliusion of the tennis balls is also an example of elastic collision because the kinetic energy before and after the collision is equal to each other.
Momentum is conserved in both inelastic and elastic collisions. Momentum is equal to mass times velocity. Therefore, in the case of the tennis balls, the addition of momentums in
itially of the balls must equal to their addition of momentums after the collision.
itially of the balls must equal to their addition of momentums after the collision. 
1 comment:
to clarify, i don't think tennis balls colliding qualify as an ELASTIC collision, because there some of the initial KE is not returned as KE after the collision. (deformation of the balls is a big culprit)
but everything else is right-on.
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