How Do You Calculate the Angular Speed of a Billiard Ball After a Strike?

In summary, the problem involves a billiard ball being struck horizontally at a distance of 10mm above its center, with a mass of 0.2kg and radius of 30mm. The center-of-mass of the ball moves with a linear speed of 1m/s immediately after the strike, and the goal is to find the angular speed of the ball. Assuming no friction between the ball and the table during the strike, the ratio of force applied to torque remains fixed at τ(t)=d*F(t). By knowing the change in linear momentum and looking up the moment of inertia for a solid sphere, the angular momentum can be calculated to determine the angular speed of the ball.
  • #1
zsp92
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A billiard ball is cued by striking it horizontally at a distance d=10mm above the center of the ball. The ball has mass m=0.2kg and radius r=30mm. Immediately after the strike, the center-of-mass of the ball moves with linear speed v=1m/s. Find the angular speed of the ball immediately after the strike. Ignore friction between the ball and the table during the strike.

I need help solving this problem since i don't even know where to start. Even an initial pointer would help me loads.
Thanks in advance
 
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  • #2
Realistically, the amount of English will depend on friction between cue and billiard, but since no useful information is given here, I think they want you to assume that the impact force is applied horizontally, which isn't a bad estimate, to be fair.

What you need to keep in mind is that while the impact force varies, the ratio of force applied to torque remains fixed at τ(t)=d*F(t). Now, you know that dp/dt = F(t) and dL/dt = τ(t) = d*F(t). So while you have no idea what the actual force profile F(t) is, you can still say that ΔL = d*ΔL. You know what Δp is from velocity and mass, so you can get ΔL. Knowing ΔL, you should be able to work out the angular momentum by looking up the moment of inertia for a solid sphere.
 
  • #3
Thread locked at the request of the OP.
 

FAQ: How Do You Calculate the Angular Speed of a Billiard Ball After a Strike?

What is angular speed?

Angular speed is the rate at which an object rotates around a fixed axis. It is commonly measured in radians per second (rad/s) or revolutions per minute (rpm).

How is angular speed different from linear speed?

Angular speed is a measure of how quickly an object is rotating, while linear speed is a measure of how quickly an object is moving in a straight line. Angular speed is measured in units of angle per unit of time, while linear speed is measured in units of distance per unit of time.

How is angular speed related to angular velocity?

Angular speed and angular velocity are closely related, as they both measure the rotation of an object. The main difference is that angular speed is a scalar quantity, while angular velocity is a vector quantity that takes into account the direction of rotation.

What factors affect angular speed?

The main factors that affect angular speed include the radius of rotation, the mass of the object, and the torque applied to the object. In general, objects with a larger radius of rotation or a larger mass will have a slower angular speed, while objects with a higher torque will have a higher angular speed.

How is angular speed calculated?

Angular speed can be calculated by dividing the angle of rotation (in radians) by the time it takes to rotate through that angle. It can also be calculated by dividing the linear speed of a point on the rotating object by the radius of rotation.

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