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?
Frictional force can decrease the total momentum of a Newton's cradle system. Friction acts in the opposite direction to the motion of the balls and causes them to eventually come to a stop, reducing the overall momentum of the system.
