StarTalk Radio Pool Table Physics with Dr. Dave Alciatore
Oct 15, 2021
Join Dr. Dave Alciatore, a retired mechanical engineering professor and co-founder of Billiards University, as he dives into the captivating world of billiard physics. He breaks down the complexities of angles, spins, and object interactions on the pool table. Learn how the Coriolis effect plays a surprising role in gameplay and discover the evolution of cue technology. With personal anecdotes and a bit of humor, this discussion reveals the intersection of science and strategy in executing trick shots and enhancing your game.
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Scooped by Coriolis
- Dr. Dave Alciatore's book on billiards physics, published in 2004, was preceded by Gaspard-Gustave Coriolis' 1835 work.
- This earlier work, untranslated until 2005, had already covered similar ground.
Parabolic Billiards
- Coriolis discovered that friction on a billiard ball remains constant in direction and magnitude.
- This constant force, like gravity, causes the ball to follow a parabolic path.
Coriolis Aiming System
- The "Coriolis aiming system" uses a ball-aim-resting (BAR) method for masse shots.
- By projecting lines, players can predict a ball's final angle after curving.
