Can a Ball Roll Purely Without Friction?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

A rigid ball cannot roll purely without friction on a rigid surface while maintaining constant velocity. The act of rolling is fundamentally caused by the tangential force at the bottom of the ball, which is generated by friction. Without friction, the ball would not transition from sliding to rolling; it would merely spin in place. The discussion emphasizes that while theoretical scenarios can be imagined, practical physics dictates that friction is essential for rolling motion.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's laws of motion
  • Basic principles of friction and its role in motion
  • Concept of rotational dynamics
  • Knowledge of rigid body mechanics
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore the principles of Newton's laws of motion in detail
  • Research the effects of friction on rolling objects
  • Study rotational dynamics and angular momentum
  • Investigate theoretical physics scenarios involving altered physical laws
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, mechanical engineers, and anyone interested in the principles of motion and friction in rigid bodies.

persia7
Messages
39
Reaction score
0
suppose a rigid ball have pure rolling with constant velocity on rigid level without friction , is it possible ?
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
What causes the 'rolling'? Isn't it the inertia of the mass countered by a tangential force at the bottom caused by friction? Otherwise it would be sliding.
 
If you ignored friction just between the surfaces (otherwise getting it rolling in the first place would be difficult), you could get the ball to "spin" but it would do so in place. If you wanted it to move as well you'd have to push it. The two motions (spin and horizontal velocity) would be independent (I don't think the spin would have any reactionary influence on the velocity without friction, but I'm not certain).

Anything is possible if you design a funky universe around desired conditions.
 

Similar threads

Cylindrical roller thrust bearing: Inherent sliders?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Paradox pure rolling and friction
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
4K
High School Why is static friction necessary for pure rolling?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Ball rolling within a rolling cylinder
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
4K
High School Friction on pure rolling non deforming sphere?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Undergrad Friction in rolling without slipping
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
6K
Reducing friction at interface between a sphere and a plane?
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
Rolling friction force and velocity
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
5K
Trying to estimate the force required to roll form a strip of aluminum
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
Pure rotation under a point force and a distributed friction
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
4K