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Newton’s cradle is a contraption where metal balls hang from a frame. When one ball is pulled and released, the collision causes one ball on the opposite end to be released.

Which type of force can decrease the total momentum of this system?

(1 point)
Responses

electrostatic force
electrostatic force

friction force
friction force

strong nuclear force
strong nuclear force

magnetic force

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
Friction force.

Explanation: Momentum of the balls is conserved only in the absence of external forces. Friction (including air resistance and friction at the pivots) is an external dissipative force that can reduce the system's total momentum.