NewtonCradle gold abacus with balls 3D model

Name: Newton_Cradle Dimensions: 22x20x21 cm

NumVerts: 21296 NumPolys: 20962 NumFaces: 42276

Render Engines:

• VRay_RT
• MentalRay

Files Version:

• Max_v2012 (vRay + MentalRay)
• FBX_v2009 (vRay + MentalRay)
• OBJ

The Newton's cradle is a device that demonstrates the conservation of momentum and the conservation of energy with swinging spheres. When one sphere at the end is lifted and released, it strikes the stationary spheres, transmitting a force through the stationary spheres that pushes the last sphere upward.

Physics explanation: Newton's cradle can be modeled fairly accurately with simple mathematical equations with the assumption that the balls always collide in pairs. If one ball strikes four stationary balls that are already touching, these simple equations can not explain the resulting movements in all five balls, which are not due to friction losses. For example, in a real Newton's cradle the fourth has some movement and the first ball has a slight reverse movement. All the animations in this article show idealized action (simple solution) that only occurs if the balls are not touching initially and only collide in pairs.