SUNSHINE SSM SENIOR SECONDARY

SCHOOL CHROMPET

A BIOLOGY PROJECT REPORT

Submitted By

TUSHARA.B, CLASS XI

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

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 ABSTRACT
Newton's Cradle is a captivating physics
demonstration that features a row of suspended metal
spheres. When one of the outer spheres is lifted and
released, it swings downward and makes contact with its
neighboring sphere. This initiates a fascinating chain
reaction as energy is transferred through the spheres. The
sphere on the opposite end swings upward in response,
demonstrating Newton's third law of motion, which states
that for every action, there is an equal and opposite
reaction. Moreover, Newton's Cradle showcases the
principles of momentum and energy conservation,
illustrating how these fundamental properties remain
constant within a closed system. This simple yet
mesmerizing device serves as a powerful educational tool,
offering a tangible and visually appealing way to
understand and appreciate the principles of classical
mechanics.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

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 [Link] TOPIC [Link]
1 INTRODUCTION:
 What is Newton’s Cradle? 5
 What does Newton’s 3rd law states?

2 BODY OF REPORT:
 Physics behind Newton’s cradle
 Laws and formulas 7
 experiment

3 CONCLUSION:
 Important role of the three laws in 13
newton’s cradle
 Aim of the experiment
4 REFERENCE:
 Sites used with links 16

NEWTON’S CRADLE
INTRODUCTION:
What is Newton’s Cradle?

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Newton's Cradle is a mesmerizing and educational physics
apparatus that elegantly illustrates fundamental principles of
classical mechanics. It typically consists of five or more
identical metal spheres, each suspended by a string or rod in a
perfectly straight line. These spheres are often made of steel or
another dense material.

When a person lifts and releases one of the outermost spheres

and allows it to swing down and collide with its neighbor, a
fascinating chain reaction ensues. The kinetic energy from the
first sphere is transferred through the intervening spheres to the
one at the opposite end, causing it to swing upward. This action
creates a visually captivating display of perpetual motion,
showcasing the laws of momentum and energy conservation.

Newton's Cradle beautifully exemplifies Newton's third law of

motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and
opposite reaction. It also illustrates the principle of the
conservation of momentum, where the total momentum of the
system remains constant unless acted upon by external forces.
Additionally, it demonstrates the conservation of kinetic energy
within a closed system.

Beyond its scientific value, Newton's Cradle has gained

popularity as a decorative desk toy and a symbol of curiosity

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and learning. It continues to inspire and educate people of all
ages about the elegance and complexity of physics.

What does Newton’s 3rd law states?

Newton's third law of motion states that "for every action, there
is an equal and opposite reaction." This fundamental principle of
classical physics elucidates the reciprocal relationship between
the forces two objects exert on each other. In essence, when
object A exerts a force on object B, object B simultaneously
exerts an equal force in the opposite direction on object A.
This law underscores the concept of symmetry in the
interactions between objects. It means that all forces occur in
pairs, with each force having an opposite counterpart. This law
has profound implications for understanding motion and
dynamics in the physical world. For instance, it explains why we
can walk or run – our foot exerts a force on the ground (action),
and the ground exerts an equal and opposite force on our foot
(reaction), propelling us forward.

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Newton's third law is not only pivotal in everyday experiences
but also in advanced scientific and engineering applications,
from the operation of engines and rockets to the behavior of
particles in particle accelerators. It is a cornerstone of our
understanding of how objects interact and move in the universe.

The Physics behind Newton’s cradle in-detail:

The physics behind Newton's Cradle involves several
fundamental principles of classical mechanics, including the
conservation of momentum, the conservation of kinetic energy,
and Newton's third law of motion. Here's a detailed explanation
of how these principles apply to the functioning of Newton's
Cradle.

Conservation of Momentum:

 When one sphere in the Newton's Cradle is lifted and

released, it starts moving downward. According to Newton's
first law of motion (the law of inertia), an object in motion
tends to stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force.
 As the first sphere moves downward, it has a certain amount
of momentum, which is the product of its mass and velocity.

Elastic Collisions:

 When the first sphere collides with the second sphere, it

comes to a stop, and the second sphere starts moving.

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 The collision between the spheres is nearly perfectly elastic,
meaning that kinetic energy is conserved in the collision. In
an elastic collision, both momentum and kinetic energy are
conserved.

Newton's Third Law:

 Newton's third law of motion states that for every action,

there is an equal and opposite reaction. In the context of
Newton's Cradle, when the first sphere (action) collides with
the second sphere, it exerts a force on the second sphere.
 In response to this force, the second sphere (reaction) exerts
an equal and opposite force on the first sphere. This force
causes the first sphere to come to a stop and the second sphere
to start moving.

Transmission of Energy:

 The energy from the initial sphere's motion is transferred

through the chain of spheres via these elastic collisions. This
transfer of energy allows the motion to propagate through the
spheres.
 As each sphere comes to a stop during a collision, it transfers
its kinetic energy to the next sphere, causing it to start
moving.

Conservation of Energy and Damping:

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 The Newton's Cradle eventually comes to a stop due to energy
losses from air resistance and internal friction within the
structure. This demonstrates that, in reality, no system is
perfectly elastic, and some energy is always dissipated as heat
and sound.

In summary, Newton's Cradle illustrates the fundamental

principles of classical mechanics, including the conservation of
momentum and kinetic energy, elastic collisions, and Newton's
third law of motion. It provides a tangible and visually striking
example of these principles in action, making it a valuable
educational tool for understanding the physics of motion and
energy transfer.

LAWS AND ITS FORMULAS:

Law of conservation of momentum
The law of conservation of momentum is a fundamental
principle in physics that states that the total momentum of an
isolated system remains constant over time if no external
forces act on it. In other words, within a closed system where
no external forces are at play, the total momentum before an
event will be equal to the total momentum after that event.

It is expressed as ,
m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2v2

Law of conservation of energy

Law of conservation of energy is a fundamental principle in
physics that states that the total energy of an isolated system

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 remains constant over time. In simpler terms, energy cannot
be created or destroyed; it can only change from one form to
another or be transferred between different parts of a system.

The amount of energy in any system is determined by the

following equation:
UT = U i + W + Q
 UT is the total energy of a system
 Ui is the initial energy of a system
 Q is the heat added or removed from the system
 W is the work done by or on the system
EXPERIMENT
AIM:
To create a simple Newton's Cradle to demonstrate the
conservation of momentum and energy in a physics experiment.
MATERIALS REQUIRED:
6 marbles (preferably medium or large in size), 20 craft sticks
Scissors, Glue, String, Tape, A pencil, Hot glue, Ruler
PROCEDURE:
 Glue four craft sticks at each corner to make the shape of a
square. Repeat this step with four more craft sticks. Leave the
sticks to dry. These will be the sides of your frames.
 Measure the string to be approximately 8 inches in length and
cut. This step is repeated to have 6 strings of equal lengths.

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 Use the hot glue to glue the marble at the center of the string.
Repeat this step with the other fivemarbles and strings.
 Use the ruler and pencil to make 6 marks along two craft
sticks ever ½ inches. Leave a space of ½ inch at the corners of
the craft sticks. Be careful to make the marks at the center of
the sticks.
 Place the strings with the marbles attached on each of the
marks on the sticks and use tape to attach the string to the
stick. After completing this step set aside the part.
 Attached the 2 sides of the frame (assembled in step 1)
together, by hot gluing two wooden sticks perpendicular to
each corner of the frame on the bottom, and two sticks on the
top of the frame.
 7. Attach craft stick with the taped strings and marbles to one
side of the frame with hot glue.
 8. Glue the second marked craft stick on the opposite side of
the frame and tape the loose end of each string with the
marble attached to each mark on the stick. Pull on each string
to make sure that each marble is align with each other.
Note: the marbles should be aligned horizontally when
viewed from above
 9. After completing the Newton’s Cradle perform experiment
by pulling one of the outside marbles back to different
heights.

OBSERVATION:
In this homemade Newton's Cradle experiment, when we
perform the experiment by pulling one of the outside marbles

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 back to different heights and release it, we can observe the
following:

 Conservation of Momentum: When you pull one of the

outside marbles back and release it, it swings down and
makes contact with the neighbouring marble. The marble that
was initially pulled backward (the action) transfers its
momentum to the neighbouring marble (the reaction). This
demonstrates the conservation of momentum, as the
momentum is transferred through the chain of marbles.

 Equal and Opposite Reaction: The neighbouring marble reacts

by swinging upward, mirroring the motion of the first marble
but in the opposite direction. This observation aligns with
Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every
action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

 Energy Transfer: The energy from the initially pulled marble

is transferred to the neighbouring marble during the collision.
This transfer of kinetic energy is evident in the upward swing
of the second marble.

 Stationary Middle Marbles: The marbles in the middle of the

Newton's Cradle remain stationary throughout the experiment.
This illustrates how the momentum is effectively transferred
through the chain, with the middle marbles acting as
intermediaries in the energy transfer.

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 Height of Swing: You can also observe that the height to
which the second marble swings upward depends on the
height from which the first marble was released. Pulling the
first marble back to different heights results in varying heights
of the second marble's swing.

Overall, this experiment serves as a visual and tangible

demonstration of the principles of momentum conservation,
equal and opposite reactions, and energy transfer, which are
fundamental concepts in classical mechanics.

RESULT:
Thus, the homemade Newton's Cradle experiment effectively
demonstrates the fundamental principles of momentum
conservation, equal and opposite reactions, and energy transfer.
It showcases how these principles govern the behaviour of
objects in motion and provides a tangible and visual
representation of these physical concepts.

CONCLUSION:

The Law of Conservation of Momentum, the Law of

Conservation of Energy, and Newton's Third Law of Motion are
all fundamental principles of classical mechanics that play
crucial roles in explaining why Newton's Cradle works
correctly:

Law of Conservation of Momentum:

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 Importance: This law states that the total momentum of an
isolated system remains constant in the absence of external
forces. In the context of Newton's Cradle, it is vital because it
ensures that the momentum of the system is conserved during
the collision and transfer of motion between the spheres.
 Relevance to Newton's Cradle: Without the conservation of
momentum, the kinetic energy and motion of the spheres
would not be transferred smoothly from one to the next. The
law ensures that the initial momentum of the first sphere is
equal to the final momentum of the last sphere, resulting in
the continuous, rhythmic motion of the spheres.

Law of Conservation of Energy:

 Importance: This law asserts that the total energy in an

isolated system remains constant, transforming between
different forms but never being created or destroyed. In
Newton's Cradle, it ensures that the total energy remains the
same as the marbles collide and transfer energy between each
other.
 Relevance to Newton's Cradle: The conservation of energy is
crucial for understanding how kinetic energy is transferred
from one marble to another during each collision. It ensures
that the motion continues without any loss of energy (ignoring
energy dissipation due to friction and air resistance), resulting
in the smooth and perpetual motion seen in Newton's Cradle.

Newton's Third Law of Motion:

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 Importance: Newton's third law states that for every action,
there is an equal and opposite reaction. It is essential for
explaining how forces act during collisions and interactions
between objects.
 Relevance to Newton's Cradle: In Newton's Cradle, when one
marble (action) collides with another, it exerts a force on the
second marble, causing it to move in the opposite direction
(reaction). This law ensures that the transfer of motion is
symmetrical, with the second marble swinging up to the same
height as the first marble's initial drop.

In summary, these three fundamental laws of physics are

essential for Newton's Cradle to work correctly because they
govern the behaviour of objects in motion, ensure the
conservation of momentum and energy in the system, and
explain the equal and opposite reactions that enable the
perpetual motion of the spheres in the Cradle. Without these
laws, the intricate dynamics of the Cradle would not be as
predictable and stable as observed.

The aim of the experiment was to construct a simple Newton's

Cradle and conduct a physics experiment to vividly illustrate the
fundamental principles of momentum conservation, equal and
opposite reactions, and energy transfer in action. This
homemade Newton's Cradle experiment serves as a tangible and
visual representation of these essential physics concepts.

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SITES USED WITH LINKS:

WIKIPEDIA
[Link]

BYJU’S
HTTPS://[Link]/QUESTION-ANSWER/WHAT-IS-NEWTON-S-CRADLE/

HOWSTUFFWORKS
HTTPS://[Link]/INNOVATION/INVENTIONS/
[Link]

OTHER WEBSITES:
 HTTPS://[Link]/PURE-SCIENCES/WHAT-IS-NEWTONS-
[Link]

 HTTPS://[Link]/LAWS-OF-CONSERVATION-OF-
MOMENTUM/#:~:TEXT=THE%20MATHEMATICAL%20FORMULA
%20FOR%20THE%20CONSERVATION%20OF
%20MOMENTUM,VELOCITIES%20OF%20M%201%20AND%20M
%202%20RESPECTIVELY

 [Link]

 [Link]
solved-examples-physics-articleid-4125

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