Five balls swinging

Another use is as an educational physics demonstration, as an example of conservation of momentum and conservation of energy. Identically-shaped balls help the pressure waves converge on the contact point of the last ball: The two waves meet up at the last contact point because the first wave reflects off the opposite side of the last ball and it meets up at the last contact point with the second wave. When balls are "touching" in subsequent collisions is complex, but still determinable by this method, especially if friction losses is included and the pendulum timing is calculated exactly instead of relying on the small angle approximation. But it's less of a wave front with each reflection. That ball slows to a stop and then falls back, and all five are briefly reunited before the first ball is pushed away from the group again.

Look forward to seeing more! The cradle device with the largest diameter collision balls on public display was visible for more than a year in Milwaukee , Wisconsin, at the retail store American Science and Surplus. Reply vic de carlo June 19, at 3: For identical elastic balls of any type with initially touching balls the action is the same for the first strike, except the time to complete a collision will decrease in softer materials. The pressure waves reflect back and forth through all 5 balls about 10 times, although dispersing to less of a wave front with more reflections. I use the tiltiest true soft.

Anashay Monga July 9, at 8: When I have tried the low compression Wilson it is like a creampuff and does not seem to go anywhere. It also had occasion to go right on me frequently than any other brand. Then the reverberations will reflect off the contact point between the 2nd and 3rd balls, but still converging at the last contact point, until the last ball is ejected.