Well I read this in another thread and I just couldn't help posting a new thread so I can say what I'm compelled to say without it getting lost in a very long thread.
THAT'S RIDICULOUS
Before I tell you what ... I'll tell you, forget scientists .. I don't even care if Jesus Christ himself posts on this thread confirming it .... It's still RIDICULOUS
Ok .. what ... what you ask. Freaking pool balls skidding because of static electricity ... that's what. This is the kind of thing that makes me wonder doesn't anyone have the ability to think anymore?
Now lets take a second to reason this out. Pool balls, as we all know react to the influence of the ball (usually the CB) hitting them. Spinning the CB with left english will result in the OB spinning with right english.
Hitting a CB into an OB with follow will result in the OB picking up underspin or draw.
Hitting a CB into an OB with draw will result in the OB picking up some overspin.
Now ... when a slow rolling CB hits an OB, not only does the OB want to leave the spot it is in, it wants to pick up a bit of this english mentioned above.
A rolling CB has forward spin which isn't really spin at all but forward roll. When it contacts a stationary OB, the OB wants to not only move in the direction opposite the hit, but it wants to turn backward in reverse as the rolling CB rubs it vertically top to bottom.
Three main conditions that effect the amount of this being experienced are ...
1. Friction ... Friction and the effect of friction is increased by the build up of dirt on the balls.
2. Friction is also a product of the material the ball is made out of.
Now don't forget that while the OB wants to pick up the opposite of this forward roll the CB has ... The CB wants to continue rolling until it gives up the forward roll to outside forces. So ... the third major factor is what friction is playing against the CB and OB in terms of preventing the effect.
3. is the lack of friction counteracting this effect by the cloth on the table.
So where conditions are a slick cloth plus dirty balls, or balls made from a composition who's surface is less slick ... skidding happens more.
It's only a split second, but the rolling (rotational) momentum of the CB wanting to continue rolling, encounters the static OB as it rubs past, and imparts a touch of reverse roll to the OB making the OB want to go Backwards from the CBs rolling momentum, and forward from the CBs directional momentum... if the rolling momentum transfer is stronger than the forward momentum, the two balls stay together for a split second as the OB wants to draw into the CB while the CB wants to continue into the OB, before they are overcome by forward momentum and they seem to skid together along the tangent line.
This is why a bit of outside english allows the CB to roll off the object ball horizontally rather than rub off it so it won't skid, and conversely this is why inside english with slow roll enhances the chance of skid.
( In a semi related note to those interested in straight pool. On the opening break, if you spin the CB into the end OB of the last row and allow the CB to "roll" off the corner ball rather than rub or "rip" across the last row taking other balls with it, you will notice a more prevalent opportunity to achieve that textbook opening break where only the two corner balls come out and go back together rather than ripping the enitre back row off the rack.) Just a note there ...
But really .... STATIC ELECTRICITY!!!! YEAH ... everyone knows CBs are positively charged while OBs are negatively charged so they stick together.
THAT'S RIDICULOUS
Before I tell you what ... I'll tell you, forget scientists .. I don't even care if Jesus Christ himself posts on this thread confirming it .... It's still RIDICULOUS
Ok .. what ... what you ask. Freaking pool balls skidding because of static electricity ... that's what. This is the kind of thing that makes me wonder doesn't anyone have the ability to think anymore?
Now lets take a second to reason this out. Pool balls, as we all know react to the influence of the ball (usually the CB) hitting them. Spinning the CB with left english will result in the OB spinning with right english.
Hitting a CB into an OB with follow will result in the OB picking up underspin or draw.
Hitting a CB into an OB with draw will result in the OB picking up some overspin.
Now ... when a slow rolling CB hits an OB, not only does the OB want to leave the spot it is in, it wants to pick up a bit of this english mentioned above.
A rolling CB has forward spin which isn't really spin at all but forward roll. When it contacts a stationary OB, the OB wants to not only move in the direction opposite the hit, but it wants to turn backward in reverse as the rolling CB rubs it vertically top to bottom.
Three main conditions that effect the amount of this being experienced are ...
1. Friction ... Friction and the effect of friction is increased by the build up of dirt on the balls.
2. Friction is also a product of the material the ball is made out of.
Now don't forget that while the OB wants to pick up the opposite of this forward roll the CB has ... The CB wants to continue rolling until it gives up the forward roll to outside forces. So ... the third major factor is what friction is playing against the CB and OB in terms of preventing the effect.
3. is the lack of friction counteracting this effect by the cloth on the table.
So where conditions are a slick cloth plus dirty balls, or balls made from a composition who's surface is less slick ... skidding happens more.
It's only a split second, but the rolling (rotational) momentum of the CB wanting to continue rolling, encounters the static OB as it rubs past, and imparts a touch of reverse roll to the OB making the OB want to go Backwards from the CBs rolling momentum, and forward from the CBs directional momentum... if the rolling momentum transfer is stronger than the forward momentum, the two balls stay together for a split second as the OB wants to draw into the CB while the CB wants to continue into the OB, before they are overcome by forward momentum and they seem to skid together along the tangent line.
This is why a bit of outside english allows the CB to roll off the object ball horizontally rather than rub off it so it won't skid, and conversely this is why inside english with slow roll enhances the chance of skid.
( In a semi related note to those interested in straight pool. On the opening break, if you spin the CB into the end OB of the last row and allow the CB to "roll" off the corner ball rather than rub or "rip" across the last row taking other balls with it, you will notice a more prevalent opportunity to achieve that textbook opening break where only the two corner balls come out and go back together rather than ripping the enitre back row off the rack.) Just a note there ...
But really .... STATIC ELECTRICITY!!!! YEAH ... everyone knows CBs are positively charged while OBs are negatively charged so they stick together.
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