Newton Beads
| Physics: | Energy Transfer, Forces |
| Grade Range: | Elementary School, Middle School, High School |
| Format: | Hands-on, Stage |
The Newton Beads are a dynamic demonstration, allowing students to watch the immediate effect from adjusting a single factor. Be wary of grabby hands, or else you will have a tangled mess to deal with!
Materials
- Two Buckets
- Newton Bead String
Safety Precautions
Please read the General Safety section of the Demonstration Safety page before performing this demonstration.
Demonstration
Preparation: Run the Newton Beads from one bucket into the other before the start of the show. That way, you can find any knots or tangles and remove them.
- Show the two buckets to the audience. Ask the students for ideas on how to move all the beads from one bucket to the other, without tangling them.
- Set the bucket of beads on a table or elevated surface, and the empty bucket on the floor beside it. Take the start of the string and drop it into the lower bucket. They will start to flow on their own!
- Remember to keep a hand at the mouth of the first bucket, to help guide the falling beads into the lower bucket. While the beads are falling, ask students for ways to stop it from flowing.
- If they say to grab it, show that this does work. Grab the beads at the top of the higher bucket and they will stop!
- If they say to lower the high bucket or raise the low bucket, show that this works as well!
- Once the string finishes falling, switch the buckets and run the string down again, while explaining the process.
Why This Works
Short Explanation
The Newton Beads are a good way to show how Force and Energy are connected. When we set the buckets up, the beads in the high bucket have some Potential Energy, or the potential for work. When they start to fall, the falling beads have Kinetic Energy, or are doing physical work. This happens largely due to the Force of Gravity, the force that pulls us down towards the Earth. But, we show that we can affect how fast the beads are falling by adjusting two things: the distance they travel, and the resistance they experience. If we adjust the height, we are adjusting how much Potential Energy is available. The higher we put the first bucket, the more Potential Energy is available, and the faster the beads can fall. If we grab the beads at the top of the falling string, we are applying Friction, or a resisting force to the motion. If we only close our hand weakly around the beads, they can continue to fall, but at a lower speed. If we grab them tightly, they stop!
Full Explanation
COMING SOON
Tips and Tricks
- It is strongly suggested that you do not let students get close to the beads. This is because they will often want to grab and play with them, which tangles it and is a hassle to untangle.