collision

[kuh-lizh-uh n] /kəˈlɪʒ ən/
noun
1.
the act of colliding; a coming violently into contact; crash:
the collision of two airplanes.
2.
a clash; conflict:
a collision of purposes.
3.
Physics. the meeting of particles or of bodies in which each exerts a force upon the other, causing the exchange of energy or momentum.
Origin
1400-50; late Middle English < Late Latin collīsiōn- (stem of collīsiō), equivalent to collīs(us) (past participle of collīdere to collide) + -iōn- -ion
Related forms
collisional, adjective
anticollision, adjective
Can be confused
collision, collusion.
Examples from the web for collision
  • They were two locomotives chugging toward a collision.
  • The avoidance of a political collision has helped economic confidence.
  • Scientists predict it may be so close that gravity could cause a catastrophic collision.
  • Astronomers are watching what they believe is a remarkable collision between two asteroids deep in space.
  • The slow but violent collision of these three plates produces spectacular earthquakes, tsunamis, and eruptions.
  • Elastic collisions: the kinetic energy before and after the collision must be conserved.
  • Anything that helps occupants survive a collision with the ground is therefore to be welcomed.
  • In this composite image, two clusters of galaxies are seen after a collision.
  • Scientists have spotted the wreckage from a spectacular collision between two planets deep in space.
  • In the case of my meeting the donkey, the collision was low-impact.
British Dictionary definitions for collision

collision

/kəˈlɪʒən/
noun
1.
a violent impact of moving objects; crash
2.
the conflict of opposed ideas, wishes, attitudes, etc: a collision of interests
3.
(physics) an event in which two or more bodies or particles come together with a resulting change of direction and, normally, energy
Word Origin
C15: from Late Latin collīsiō from Latin collīdere to collide
Word Origin and History for collision
n.

early 15c., from Middle French collision (15c.), from Latin collisionem (nominative collisio) "a dashing together," noun of action from collidere (see collide).

collision in Technology


1. When two hosts transmit on a network at once causing their packets to corrupt each other.
See collision detection.
2. hash collision.
(1995-01-06)

Encyclopedia Article for collision

in physics, the sudden, forceful coming together in direct contact of two bodies, such as, for example, two billiard balls, a golf club and a ball, a hammer and a nail head, two railroad cars when being coupled together, or a falling object and a floor. Apart from the properties of the materials of the two objects, two factors affect the result of impact: the force and the time during which the objects are in contact. It is a matter of common experience that a hard steel ball dropped on a steel plate will rebound to almost the position from which it was dropped, whereas with a ball of putty or lead there is no rebound. The impact between the steel ball and plate is said to be elastic, and that between the putty or lead balls and plate is inelastic, or plastic; between these extremes there are varying degrees of elasticity and corresponding responses to impact. In a perfectly elastic impact (attained only at the atomic level), none of the kinetic energy of the coacting bodies is lost; in a perfectly plastic impact, the loss of kinetic energy is at a maximum.

Learn more about collision with a free trial on Britannica.com