Frictional force between pool table surface and cue ball?

[aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Hey all,

i'm doing a physics research on snooker but i don't really know the approximate frictional force acting between the pool table surface (which is made of a wool called baize) and the cue ball. Does anyone know it cos i need to calculate the decceleration of the cue ball as it rolls across the pool table with a certain velocity.

Thanks.

 

[russ_watters]

The best way would probably be to measure it. That in itself would be a good research subject. You could use a small inclined ramp to give the ball a precise amount of kinetic energy and calculate from the distance it rolls (taking into account the moment of inertia and rotational kinetic energy as well as linear kinetic energy...).

 

[charng]

I can say that the frictional force between the pool table surface and the cue ball is dependent on several factors such as the roughness of the baize material, the weight and size of the cue ball, and the force with which the cue ball is struck. A precise calculation of this force would require detailed measurements and experimental data. However, some studies have estimated the coefficient of friction between a billiard ball and a woolen surface to be around 0.2 to 0.3. This means that for every unit of force applied to the cue ball, there will be a frictional force of 0.2 to 0.3 units acting in the opposite direction, causing the cue ball to decelerate. It is important to note that this value may vary depending on the specific conditions of the pool table and the cue ball. I would recommend conducting your own experiments to gather more accurate data for your research.