How does the final kinetic energy of the system in an inelastic collision compare to the initial kinetic energy?

The final kinetic energy is less than the initial kinetic energy.

Kinetic energy is the form of energy that one possesses when he is in motion.

During an inelastic collision, the momentum of the system is conserved, but the total kinetic energy is not conserved.

Some part of the initial kinetic energy of the system gets lost in the form of heat, light, and sound produced during the collision. Consequently, the final kinetic energy must be less than the initial kinetic energy.

Thus, the final kinetic energy is less than the initial kinetic energy.

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 In an inelastic collision, the total kinetic energy after the collision is not equal to the total kinetic energy before the collision. While inelastic collisions may not conserve total kinetic energy, they do conserve total momentum.

Explanation: