On the Impact of Elastic Bodies with Adhesive Forces

We analyze the problem of an elastic sphere impacting against another elastic body for the case when adhesive forces act between the bodies. Depending on the parameter describing the (relative) influence of the adhesive forces, the bodies will either separate or continue to be in contact and perform an oscillatory motion after the rebound. The value of the adhesive forces parameter defining separation and capture is calculated. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.