Build your own working Newton’s Cradle using popsicle sticks, string and marbles. Participants will construct a simple frame, carefully suspend the marbles, and tune the spacing so the motion transfers cleanly from one ball to the next.
As the cradle comes to life, participants explore how momentum and energy move through the system. By adjusting alignment, tension and spacing, they will observe how motion travels through the row of marbles and how small changes affect the movement.
This hands-on session combines physics, engineering and careful construction. Participants experiment, refine and test their designs while developing patience, problem solving skills and an understanding of how energy moves through mechanical systems.
Learning Focus
Physics
Momentum and energy transfer
Motion and conservation of energy
Engineering
Structural design and balance
Alignment and precision in moving systems
Design and Problem Solving
Building and refining simple mechanisms
Testing, observation and adjustment
By the end of the workshop, each participant takes home a working Newton’s Cradle and a practical demonstration of how energy and momentum move through connected objects.
