In spite of interest in the dynamics of the billiards family of games (for example, pool and snooker), experiments using present-day inexpensive and easily accessible cameras have not been reported. We use a single high-speed camera and image processing techniques to track the trajectory of snooker balls to 1 mm accuracy. Successive ball positions are used to measure the dynamical parameters involved in snooker. Values for the rolling and the sliding coefficients of friction were found. The cushion-ball impact was studied for impacts perpendicular to the cushion. The separation angles and separation velocities after an oblique collision were measured and compared with predicted values. Our measurement technique is a simple, reliable, fast, and nonintrusive method, which can be used to test the numerous theories for the dynamics of billiards. The addition of a spin tracking element would further broaden its capabilities.
Skip Nav Destination
,
,
Article navigation
September 2009
PAPERS|
September 01 2009
Application of high-speed imaging to determine the dynamics of billiards Available to Purchase
S. Mathavan;
S. Mathavan
a)
Mechatronics Research Group, Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering,
Loughborough University
, Loughborough LE11 3UZ, United Kingdom
Search for other works by this author on:
M. R. Jackson;
M. R. Jackson
b)
Mechatronics Research Group, Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering,
Loughborough University
, Loughborough LE11 3UZ, United Kingdom
Search for other works by this author on:
R. M. Parkin
R. M. Parkin
c)
Mechatronics Research Group, Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering,
Loughborough University
, Loughborough LE11 3UZ, United Kingdom
Search for other works by this author on:
S. Mathavan
a)
M. R. Jackson
b)
R. M. Parkin
c)
Mechatronics Research Group, Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering,
Loughborough University
, Loughborough LE11 3UZ, United Kingdoma)
Electronic mail: [email protected]
b)
Electronic mail: [email protected]
c)
Electronic mail: [email protected]
Am. J. Phys. 77, 788–794 (2009)
Article history
Received:
December 19 2008
Accepted:
June 02 2009
Citation
S. Mathavan, M. R. Jackson, R. M. Parkin; Application of high-speed imaging to determine the dynamics of billiards. Am. J. Phys. 1 September 2009; 77 (9): 788–794. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.3157159
Download citation file:
Pay-Per-View Access
$40.00
Sign In
You could not be signed in. Please check your credentials and make sure you have an active account and try again.
Citing articles via
Temperature as joules per bit
Charles Alexandre Bédard, Sophie Berthelette, et al.
Internal ballistics of the sling
Mark Denny
The right way to introduce complex numbers in damped harmonic oscillators
Jason Tran, Leanne Doughty, et al.
All objects and some questions
Charles H. Lineweaver, Vihan M. Patel
Ergodic Lagrangian dynamics in a superhero universe
I. L. Tregillis, George R. R. Martin
A first encounter with exceptional points in a quantum model
C. A. Downing, V. A. Saroka
Related Content
Cue and ball deflection (or “squirt”) in billiards
Am. J. Phys. (March 2008)
Oblique angle collisions between three or more billiard balls
Am. J. Phys. (November 2023)
Rolling Motion of a Ball Spinning About a Near-Vertical Axis
Phys. Teach. (January 2012)
Classical and quantum confocal parabolic billiards
Am. J. Phys. (December 2021)
Elastic collisions of smooth spherical objects: Finding final velocities in four simple steps
Am. J. Phys. (March 2019)