Description
What is a Newton’s Cradle? It’s a device that demonstrates conservation of momentum and energy by using a set of swinging balls. It was named after Sir Isaac Newton, remember him? He was the one who essentially “discovered” gravity one day while sitting under a tree and having an apple fall on his head. We’ll leave the debate on the authenticity of that story for another time.
The idea is that you lift one ball on the end, release it – it collides with the marble next to it and the force of that collision travels through each of the other marbles until it reaches the last one, which swings upward. When that marble swings back down, the force travels through the marbles again.
More Ideas: Have fun playing with this! Try lifting and releasing two marbles at a time. What happens?
Besides visually demonstrating the conservation of momentum and energy, the rhythmic clicking will soothe, calm and relax you! This kit makes a fun conversation piece and fits on a desktop or coffee table
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