File:Newtons_cradle_animation_book_2.gif · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Newton's cradle
Sign in to saveAlso known as Newton's balls, Newton's pendulum, Newton’s cradle, Newton’s balls, Newton’s pendulum, Newton cradle, Newton balls, Newton pendulum
device that demonstrates conservation of momentum and energy via a series of swinging spheres
Wikidata facts
- Subclass of
- office toy
- Named after
- Isaac Newton
- Image
- Newtons cradle animation new.gif
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- Commons category
- Newton's cradle
- Commons gallery
- Newton's cradle
Sources (1)
via Wikidata · CC0
~22 min read
Encyclopedic overview
Idealized 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 cradle thus demonstrates conservation of momentum and energy.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Newton's cradle” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.