Blender 3D: Newtons Cradle tutorial, Part one

In part one of this two part tutorial we will take a look at modeling and animating the famous Newtons Cradle. As the newtons cradle is a demonstration of physics, so to is this tutorial. We'll be using the physics engine to achieve the animation we are after. You'll learn the basics of rigid body physics, the rigid body joint, and how to trouble shoot your way through problems that arise.

The physics engine is a very precise tool. As you will see in this this tutorial, tiny changes to the scene can have enormous effects on the physics.

In part two we will look at setting up the finished shot, adding HDR lighting, and rendering with motion blur.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• physics
• blender
• tutorial
• training
• how to
• firechild
• newtons cradle
• animation

[docteurcharly21]

Wonderful !

[a1s2e3m4]

Hi how much I should take to learn this program ? sorry for the stupid question :P

and btw you are awesome man your videos are GOOD

hope you the best

[xy2z1997]

@bubufetz Simply move the camera while keyframing it's location.

[xy2z1997]

@Superboy00110011 Have you tried raising the mass on the spheres? Another problem might be that the last two balls are too close or far together, just like he said, it's all about the tweaking.

[Superboy00110011]

I'm having some trouble.

The last ball, after the first has collided with the others, won't swing up.

Instead, it tries to slide along the Y axis.

Any idea how I can fix that?

[bubufetz]

how to move camera around during animation in blender?

[ChevyVanDude]

Not that this is actually an exact replica of Newton's Cradle (never knew it was named like this) because only 1 ball can be in motion.

Now when the left hit the center, the ball on the right moves AND the ones in the center.

That is not how it is supposed to be.

Just say'n

[attffgg]

hi there! i'm new to blender and i want to use it mostly to add 3d elements to a 2d illustration...so it would be very useful to me to be able to set the camera lens aperture to the exact size of the image plane i load in the background.

i noticed the contrary: i load a ref image, set it to camera but the image gets stretched or squashed to the current camera lens size/ratio. is there a way to make the image dictate it? thanks!

[GPEART1]

Well worth the wait, great tut, love it.

[vengencefrom1979]

blender is amazing