Elastic scattering

Elastic scattering occurs when particles collide and deflect off each other without changing their internal states or losing energy. Think of it like billiard balls hitting each other—after the collision, they bounce apart with the same speed as before, just in different directions. This process happens in physics at the atomic and subatomic levels, such as photons bouncing off electrons or protons scattering off each other. It helps scientists understand the structure and interactions of particles, because the way they scatter reveals details about their properties without altering their fundamental makeup.