Centrifugal force spinning Basketball

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the effects of centrifugal force on water droplets on a spinning basketball at 33 RPM, 45 RPM, and 78 RPM. It concludes that the stippled surface of the basketball effectively retains droplets due to surface roughness and adhesion, counteracting gravity. At the equator, the centrifugal force attempts to lift droplets off the surface, but a rotation speed exceeding 78 RPM is necessary to overcome the surface tension and bond with the ball material.

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  • Familiarity with rotational dynamics
  • Basic physics of spinning objects
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  • Research the effects of surface roughness on fluid retention
  • Explore the relationship between RPM and centrifugal force
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nick200000
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Hi, Looking for Centrifugal force on water droplets on my spinning Basketball at 33 RPM, 45 RPM and 78 RPM
 
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Welcome to PF.

It appears the stippled surface of the ball holds the droplets in position, so they do not move during rotation. Maybe drops stick to the worn tip of the bump or to contamination of the surface between bumps. That surface roughness, and attraction, is clearly strong enough to counter gravity.

A droplet near the equator or the pole will not be expected to migrate across the surface when the ball is spun. Near the equator, the force would tend to lift the droplet off the surface. But the rate of rotation, required to break free, would need to be greater than 78 RPM before overcoming the surface tension and the bond with the ball material.

It might help if we knew what you were trying to disprove with the experiment.
 
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