Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Newton's Cradle in Vacuum 
Name: Chris S.
Status: student
Age: 30s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2001-2002
Question:
Will a Newton's cradle run longer in time from start to finish, in a vacuum chamber? Due to no air resistance and energy lost in the form of sound when the balls collide.

Replies:
Yes.

Tim Mooney

Chris,

Just as a Newton's cradle runs for less time in water, I expect it would run quite a bit longer in a vacuum. Still, it would not run forever. Some energy can work its way through the strings into the support and then into the table.

Dr. Ken Mellendorf
Physics Instructor
Illinois Central College


Click here to return to the Physics Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory