This simple program shows an animation of a two-pendulum version of Newton’s cradle. One pendulum begins at some starting angle and the other pendulum is stationary. When the moving pendulum slams into the stationary one, its momentum is transferred to the other pendulum.
from visual import * import numpy as np # Constants g = 9.80 # (m/s^2) L = 10 # Length of the pendulums (m) initialAngle = 1.2 # In radians # Create the pendulum bob and rod pend = sphere(pos=(L*np.sin(initialAngle), -L*np.cos(initialAngle), 0), radius=1, color=color.yellow) rod = cylinder(pos=(0, 0, 0), axis=(pend.pos[0], pend.pos[1], 0), radius=0.1) pend2 = sphere(pos=(-2, -L, 0), radius=1, color=color.red) rod2 = cylinder(pos=(-2, 0, 0), axis=(pend2.pos[0]+2, pend2.pos[1], 0), radius=0.1) def position(right, t): """ Only one of the pendulums is in motion at a given time. This function moves the moving pendulum to its new position. We use the equation: theta(t) = theta_0*cos(sqrt(g/L)*t) """ theta = initialAngle*np.cos((g/L)**(1/2)*t) if right: pend.pos = [L * np.sin(theta), -L * np.cos(theta), 0] # Update position of bob rod.axis = [pend.pos[0], pend.pos[1], 0] # Update rod's position else: pend2.pos = [L * np.sin(theta) - 2, -L * np.cos(theta), 0] # Update position of bob rod2.axis = [pend2.pos[0] + 2, pend2.pos[1], 0] # Update rod's position # Once the moving pendulum reaches theta = 0, switch to the other one if theta <= 0: return False # Return else: return True # Increment time i = 0 right = True # The right pendulum is the first in motion while True: rate(200) right = position(right, i) i += 0.01
If you want to include damping, you can change the line
theta = initialAngle*np.cos((g/L)**(1/2)*t)
to
theta = initialAngle*exp(-mu*t)*np.cos((g/L)**(1/2)*t)
with some value for mu.
Can you please help me to solve differential equations that describes Newton’s cradle motion using python to plot graphics (displacement and velocity)
Than calculate kinetic energy and plot it .
It sounds like a fun project, but I am sorry, I cannot help.
Awesome! Is there any way to get a tutorial to do one with three or more pendulums?