What makes collisions between gas particles "elastic"?

Collisions between gas particles are characterized as "elastic" when kinetic energy is conserved during the interactions. In an elastic collision, the total kinetic energy before the collision is equal to the total kinetic energy after the collision. This means that the gas particles can collide and bounce off each other without losing energy to factors like deformation, heat, or sound.

This property is essential in gas laws because it helps explain how gases behave under various conditions. For instance, the concept of elastic collisions is fundamental in the kinetic molecular theory, which describes the behavior of gases in terms of particle motion. When gas particles collide elastically, they preserve their speed and energy, allowing for predictable behaviors in pressure and temperature changes.

The other options reference concepts that do not accurately describe the nature of gas particle collisions. Sparks, interactions, and sound production imply energy loss or transformation, which contradicts the principle of elastic collisions.