[Virginia Tech Department of Physics]

Lecture Demonstrations

Mechanics
   

M59: Newton's Cradle

 

Purpose: To demonstrate conservation of linear momentum and conservation of energy in multiple elastic collisions.

Description:

 

A classic Newton's Cradle will be used to show how momentum is conserved by lifting any number of balls on one side and observing that when striking the remaining balls in the middle the same same number of balls will always be knocked away on the other side at the same speed as the original balls. To start, hold one, then two, then three or four balls to the side and release. Symmetric oscillations result from conservation of energy and conservation of linear momentum in the collision sequence.

Equipment List: Storage Location: Hahn N 130A

 

Newton's Cradle D0, D5.6

References:

Manual: None   Setup Notes: M59 PIRA #: 1N30.10
Manufacturer(s): Other school's Demonstration web pages

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