CLASSICAL MECHANICS / LAB 03
Newton’s cradle laboratory
Lift and release the spheres to investigate how momentum and kinetic energy pass through a chain of nearly elastic collisions.
Time 0.00 sCollisions 0Last impulse 0.000 N·sSelected ball 1
LIVE GRAPHS
Transfer through the cradle
COMPARISON TABLE
Completed experiments
| # | Preset | Released | Angle | Restitution | Collisions | Initial energy | Current energy | Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Run an experiment to record its measurements. | ||||||||
WHAT YOU ARE SEEING
Momentum enters one side. Motion leaves the other.
Momentum and energy
Momentum depends on velocity, while kinetic energy depends on velocity squared. Conserving both quantities strongly constrains the outcome.
Why the same number exits
For identical spheres in nearly elastic contact, one incoming ball usually produces one outgoing ball; two incoming balls usually produce two.
Why real cradles stop
Sound, heat, deformation, air resistance and pivot friction gradually remove mechanical energy even though total energy remains conserved overall.
Momentump = mv
Kinetic energyEₖ = ½mv²
Restitutione = (v₂ − v₁) / (u₁ − u₂)