[jeffreyH (OP)]

If three identical particles collide with the same kinetic energy is there a way for this collision to produce different resulting kinetic energies after the collision. They don't have to all collide simultaneously.

[Colin2B]

If the particles are idealised billiard balls, yes, because you can set up differing angles of approach. Also different timing for collision will do same.
However, KEin=KEout.

PS But you know that already, so there must be a deeper question behind this one.

[chiralSPO]

E_in = E_out but it doesn't have to remain as kinetic energy. For example:

• Imagine the three particles (each having mass) are in a gravitational field--the collision could result in one (or more) of the particles moving to a higher potential energy within the field, at the expense of the combined kinetic energy of the system (converting kinetic energy into potential energy).

• Or, we could imagine that the particles have internal structure, and that a collision could change one (or more) of the particles to an excited state (for atoms, this could be a change in electronic state, for molecules it could be a change in vibrational and/or electronic state, or there could be some other kind of internal strain caused by the collision) (again, converting kinetic energy into potential energy, or into internal kinetic energy, in the case of vibration)

[jeffreyH (OP)]

If the particles are idealised billiard balls, yes, because you can set up differing angles of approach. Also different timing for collision will do same.
However, KEin=KEout.

PS But you know that already, so there must be a deeper question behind this one.

Yes.

[evan_au]

I would say that as soon as you reach three or more interacting objects, you are starting to enter the domain of thermodynamics, where the results of the interaction will take on a distribution of energies.

We normally apply the statistics of thermodynamics to very large systems (10²⁰ or more interacting particles), but it can be glimpsed in much smaller systems too.

[jeffreyH (OP)]

I am heading towards quantum thermodynamics. Although it looks quite mean.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_thermodynamics

[jeffreyH (OP)]

I am also looking at this.
http://m.sparknotes.com/physics/workenergypower/workpower/section2.rhtml

[jeffreyH (OP)]

So if we have an idealised system with a number of particles all with the same kinetic energy can any useful work be done by the system? Think of the system as in total isolation and any number of particles. Basically starting from a state of equilibrium.

[jeffreyH (OP)]

Please bear this in mind.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_quantum_system

[yor_on]

http://www.physicscentral.com/explore/action/negative-temperature.cfm

[jeffreyH (OP)]

Excellent find yor_on!