Mb-2 Newton's Cradle
Published: Thursday 09 March 2006 - Updated: Thursday 24 March 2011
Aim
To demonstrate the conservation of mementum and energy laws.
Apparatus
Newton's Cradle
Diagrams
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Videos
Newton's Cradle A |
Newton's Cradle B |
Description
For small displacements we essentially have linear motion, and, hence conservation of momentum. Together with the conservation of energy law, it can be shown that if m balls are used to give an impulse to the system, then, following the collision, m balls will leave with equal momenta.