Newtons Cradle Pendulum Wave, with 12 Stainless Steel Balls, Serpentine Pendulum/Multiple Pendulum/Educational Pendulum/Dynamic Pendulum/Variable Length Pendulum/Periodic Pendulum

Be ready to fiddle with it if you want sustained patterns.

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We love the Wave, however the way it is put together, it easily gets off balance by just moving it certain ways. I have had to adjust the length of the balls a few times. As seen in the pic they still are not all the right height. It also does not stay in wave formation like some of the more expensive options out there. Overall, it's cute, but there are much better options out there that compete with the price point.

This is a fun physics toy and came well packaged to protect the pendulums and prevent the lines from becoming tangled. It does require a Phillips screwdriver to assemble. While the rod and bar going across appear to be high-quality, clear acrylic, the side brackets and bar for lining up the pendula to release them are a frosted plastic that looks cheap. The instructions were very poor ("Assemble the bracket" when what you really have to do is unscrew the screws from the central rod, and use them to secure each end of the rod to one of the side brackets--even the picture is not helpful). Fortunately, it's pretty simple to assemble. There are also no directions for use, although I suppose if you're buying a science gadget, you probably know how to use it. I suspect the length settings might be slightly off for two of the balls, as they don't seem to return to the original pattern as nicely as the others do. It's a nice product in concept, but it could be better executed.

Assembles super quick - just follow the directions.Materials are very basic and it has acrylic pieces that you will want to be careful with.Includes a large paddle to help push the wave cradle for its initial push.The balls are preassembled on the header bar so you just need to slightly untangle a few and you are set.Makes a fun gift and is definitely mesmerizing.

The packaging was very well thought out in order to keep the balls from getting tangled together. It assembled relatively easy only requiring a small screwdriver. At first I thought the two screws were missing but found them screwed into the ends of the round rod. Another reviewer said that the bar for lining up the pendula to release them is frosted plastic that looks cheap. It is not frosted, it has the same protective film on it that the side legs have and just needs to be peeled off.The directions are not very clear on how to start it but the marketing page has a video that shows how to assemble and use this. It would be a good idea to instruct younger ones on how to use it as I have seem some users try to swing the balls side to side like the more common Newton’s cradle.The balls can become out of alignment and not swing as expected. Watch the balls as you start them. If one seems to be swinging faster than it should, you can very carefully pull down on the plastic cord to very slightly lower the ball, then start them swinging again. If a ball is swinging slower than it should, then it needs to be raised a bit by pulling on one of the cords to either side of that ball. (I tried several ways but that’s the easiest way I could explain what to do).

Out of the box was easy to put together, and I immediately displayed it. It kind of draws you in and everybody that's been over has taken a turn with it. The problem is it doesn't necessarily work the way you would think it would.

The media could not be loaded. Pretty neat science "toy"! Different than the more widely known pendulum where the balls collide to demonstrate force and mass relations, this one shows how waves from and dissipate. Very easy to assemble, but you do need a small Phillips head screwdriver. The acrylic wand piece is to start and stop the balls. When set in motion, they will go through periods of sine waves of different frequencies, double sines, and randomness. I find it relaxing and keep it on our outside bar top. Price was a bit high, but I like it!