Question

Explain how the end ball on the right of a Newton’s cradle moves when the end ball on the left was lifted and released.

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

This movement happens in a very simple way, no matter how it seems. These movements happen due to the conservation of energy.

That's because when the last ball on the right is raised and released, we impose gravitational energy on it. When this ball goes down and hits the other balls, the gravitational energy is transformed into kinetic energy, having a speed equal to zero. When it passes through the still balls, this energy is transformed again, this time into potential energy. When the power energy reaches the last ball to the left, it becomes kinetic energy again, which again becomes gravitational energy when that ball is raised at the same height as the first ball.

This cycle will be repeated a few times, but the entire process occurs with loss of energy. The movement stops as the energy is lost.