Center of Mass

In an inelastic collision, although the momentum is conserved, kinetic energy is not. Some of the initial kinetic energy is converted into other forms of energy, such as heat, sound, or energy used in deforming the colliding bodies. This means that the kinetic energy after the collision is less than before the collision.
So, the correct answer is:
Option B: is less than before collision
To summarize:
In an inelastic collision, momentum is conserved.
Kinetic energy decreases because some energy is lost to other forms (like heat or sound).
Therefore, the kinetic energy after collision is less than the kinetic energy before the collision.