Newton's cradle

3-D rendering of the cradle in motion

Newton's cradle is a device, usually made of metal, that demonstrates the principles of conservation of momentum and conservation of energy in physics with swinging spheres. When one sphere at the end is lifted and released, it strikes the stationary spheres, compressing them and thereby transmitting a pressure wave through the stationary spheres, which creates a force that pushes the last sphere upward. The last sphere swings back and strikes the stationary spheres, repeating the effect in the opposite direction. The device is named after 17th-century English scientist Sir Isaac Newton and was designed by French scientist Edme Mariotte. It is also known as Newton's pendulum, Newton's balls, Newton's rocker or executive ball clicker (since the device makes a click each time the balls collide, which they do repeatedly in a steady rhythm).[1][2]

  1. ^ "Newton's Cradle". Harvard Natural Sciences Lecture Demonstrations. Harvard University. 27 February 2019.
  2. ^ Palermo, Elizabeth (28 August 2013). "How Does Newton's Cradle Work?". Live Science.

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