Project Work on Newton’s Cradle

A project report Submitted to Department of Physics

Kathmandu Model Secondary School

Bagbazar, Kathmandu

Submitted by

Prashna lamsal

Prekshya Neupane

Krishna sah

Pratik Yadav

Mithlesh Kumar Singh

Jenisha Raut

Mahesh Subedi

Prapti oli
 Declaration
I hereby declare that the report presented in this project report has been done by
ourselves under the supervision of Mr. RSA, and has not been submitted
elsewhere for any examination.

All the sources of information have been specifically acknowledged by references

to authors or institutions.

Name of Student: Group B

Stream Science Section: M2

 Subject Teacher’s Recommendation
The project work report entitled “Conic section and applications” submitted by
Group B of Kathmandu Model Secondary School Bag bazar, Kathmandu Nepali is
prepared under my supervision as per the procedure and format requirements laid
by the Department of Physics Kathmandu Model Secondary School, as the partial
fulfillment of the requirements of internal evaluation of grade XII. Therefore,
recommend the report for evaluation.

Name of Subject Teacher: Reaches Sharma

 Endorsement
We here by endorse the project work report entitled “newton cradle
Applications” submitted by Group B sec M2 of Kathmandu Model secondary
school, Bag bazar, Kathmandu, Nepal in partial fulfillment of the
requirements of the Physics project work
Internal evaluation of grade XII.

Name of HOD: Mr. Reaches Sharma

Department of physics
 Table of Contents
Title page…................................................................................................ 1

Declaration…............................................................................................. 2

Subject Teacher’s Recommendation… .................................................... 3

Endorsement….......................................................................................... 4

Table of contents…................................................................................... 5

Introduction…............................................................................................ 6

Theory and principle… ..............................................................................7

Key principles .............................................................................................8

Application…………………………………………………………...........9

Result…...................................................................................................... 10

Conclusion…............................................................................................... 11
Bibliography………………………………………………………………..12
 Introduction
Newton's Cradle is a fascinating device that demonstrates the principles of momentum and
energy conservation in physics. Named after Sir Isaac Newton, it consists of a series of
suspended balls of equal mass suspended in a straight line by thin wires or rods. When one
ball at one end is lifted and released, it strikes the next ball, transferring energy and
momentum through the series. As a result, the ball at the opposite end swings outward
with almost the same energy, while the middle balls remain nearly stationary.
 Theory and Principle
Newton's Cradle is a device that demonstrates the principles of conservation of
momentum and conservation of energy through a series of swinging spheres.
It simply follows Newton’s third law of motion i.e. for every action there is an equal
and opposite reaction. As we can see if we move one ball then as a reaction the other
end of the ball will be moved. Similarly if we move two balls, the other end of two
balls will be moved without the movement of the balls residing in the middle. This
also shows newton’s third law of motion i.e. Fa= -Fb
Also, according to conservation of momentum,
The objects without an external force is the same before and after its interaction.
Momentum before collision= Momentum after collision
m1u1+m2u2= m1v1+m2v2
Also, according to conservation of energy,
Kinetic energy before collision= Kinetic energy after collision
Significance and Application of Newton's Cradle
Newton's Cradle, though often regarded as a decorative desk accessory, holds
substantial educational, scientific, and practical significance. It elegantly
demonstrates the fundamental principles of conservation of momentum and
conservation of energy through the interaction of pendulum-like balls. Below are the
key areas where the Newton's Cradle is significant and its applications in various
fields.
1. Educational Significance:
Newton's Cradle is widely used as an educational tool to demonstrate and explain
core principles of physics. It helps students visually understand concepts that may
otherwise be abstract. The key principles demonstrated by the device include:
a. Conservation of Momentum:

 Newton’s Cradle allows students to observe how momentum is transferred between

objects in an isolated system. When one ball is lifted and released, the momentum is
transferred to the balls in the series, leading to the last ball swinging with the same
velocity as the initial ball.
b. Conservation of Energy:

 The device helps illustrate how energy (specifically kinetic energy and potential
energy) is transferred through the system. The motion of the balls demonstrates
energy conservation as the energy in the lifted ball is transferred to the final ball in
the system.
c. Elastic Collisions:

 The idealized motion in Newton’s Cradle demonstrates elastic collisions, where the
kinetic energy of the colliding balls is largely conserved. This helps students
understand how elastic collisions occur in real-world systems like billiard balls or
gas molecules.
c. Testing of Physical Principles:

 For physicists, the Newton's Cradle offers a way to test theoretical principles
under controlled conditions. By varying parameters such as the number of balls, the
release height, and the material used for the balls, scientists can study how closely
the device matches ideal models of energy conservation and momentum transfer.
2. Practical Applications:
While Newton’s Cradle is primarily a tool for illustrating physics concepts, it has
practical applications in several fields.
a. Engineering and Design:

 Vibration Damping: The principles of energy transfer and momentum conservation

demonstrated by Newton's Cradle are applied in engineering systems that involve
vibration damping and shock absorption. In machines and structures,
understanding how energy transfers through systems is key to designing materials
that can absorb shock or vibrations without causing damage.
 Mechanical Systems and Collisions: The study of elastic collisions is relevant in
various engineering applications, including the design of billiard balls, vehicle
safety systems, and other systems where energy is transferred between objects.
Newton’s Cradle demonstrates how these systems might behave under certain
conditions.
b. Robotics and Simulation:

 The principles behind Newton’s Cradle can be applied to robotics, particularly in

designing robots that interact with objects in precise ways. By understanding the
way energy and momentum transfer, engineers can design more efficient robotic
systems that interact with their environment in controlled manners.
c. Acoustic Systems:

 In acoustics, the transfer of energy demonstrated in Newton's Cradle can be applied

to sound waves and resonance. The device is also sometimes used in acoustic
studies to demonstrate how sound energy travels through different materials.
 RESULT

The experiment demonstrates the principal of conservation of momentum

and elastic collisions. The numbers of spheres moving on the opposite end
remains the same as the striking end, illustrating the conservation of
momentum. Additionally, the spheres exhibit elastic collisions, as kinetic
energy is conserved during the process.
 CONCLUSION
This project on Newton's Cradle provides valuable insights into the
Physics of momentum and energy conservation. By studying and
experimenting with this Classic toy, we aim to gain a deeper
understanding of fundamental physics principles, making it a valuable
learning experience for physics learners at all levels.

Bibliography
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton%27s_cradle
https://byjus.com/question-answer/what-is-newton-s-cradle/