The Physics of Pool

The Physics of Pool
English

Instructors

Joseph A. Formaggio
Associate Professor of Physics
Department of Physics
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA

Jose Machuca
Teacher of Computer Science
Regis High School
New York, NY

Lesson Feedback

Introduction

The objective of this lesson is to illustrate how a common everyday experience (such as playing pool) can often provide a learning moment. In the example chosen, we use the game of pool to help explain some key concepts of physics. One of these concepts is the conservation of linear momentum since conservation laws play an extremely important role in many aspects of physics. The idea that a certain property of a system is maintained before and after something happens is quite central to many principles in physics and in the pool example, we concentrate on the conservation of linear momentum. The latter half of the video looks at angular momentum and friction, examining why certain objects roll, as opposed to slide. We do this by looking at how striking a ball with a cue stick at different locations produces different effects. Though not required, students who have been exposed to some physics would benefit most from this video. In mathematically rigorous classes, students can concentrate on the details of vectors and conservation of linear momentum. No materials are required for this lesson, and it can be completed easily within a class period.

这节课的主要目的是说明一个普通的日常生活经验(比如玩桌球)是如何能够提供一个学习机会的。在这个选好的例子中,我们通过玩桌球来帮助解释物理学中的一些重要的概念。这些概念的其中之一就是线性动量守恒,因为守恒定律在物理学的许多方面发挥着极其重要的作用。一个系统的某个性质在某件事发生前后保持守恒这个概念对物理学中的许多原理以及我们这个桌球的例子至关重要,我们主要讨论线性动量守恒。视频的后半部分提到了角动量和摩擦力,讨论了为什么某种物体滚动而不是滑动。我们通过用球杆击打一个球的不同部分来说明击打的球的部位不同产生的效果就不同。虽然不作要求,学过一些物理学知识的学生最能够从这节课中得到收获。在对数学要求较高的课堂里,学生们可以集中在向量和线性动量的守恒上。这节课不需要其他材料,可以在一节课的时间内轻松完成。

Instructor Biography

Prof. Formaggio is an associate professor of physics at MIT’s Laboratory for Nuclear Science.  He works primarily in nuclear physics and cosmology, studying the properties of neutrinos – near massless sub-atomic particles that permeate everything in the universe.  You can find more information on Prof. Formaggio’s research here.

Jose Machuca is a computer science teacher at Regis High School in Manhattan where he and Professor Formaggio attended high school together.

Formaggio教授是MIT核科学实验室的一位物理学副教授。他主要从事核物理和宇宙学的研究,研究微中子的性质——一种原子内的几乎没有质量的粒子, 可以渗入到世界上任何一种物质里。你可以从这儿获得Formaggio教授的更多信息。
Jose Machuca 是曼哈顿Regis高中的一位计算机科学老师,他和Formaggio教授是这个高中的校友。

Additional Online Resources

Real World Physics Problems: The Physics Of Billiards
This page, sponsored by the Real World Physics Problems website, provides a comprehensive examination of the physics involved in pool.

University of Oregon: Conservation of Linear Momentum
This applet, created at the University of Oregon, simulates the conservation of linear momentum with varying values of momentum, mass and velocity.

HyperPhysics
This page, sponsored by the HyperPhysics website of Georgia State University, provides an accessible and comprehensive overview of angular momentum.

 

Real World Physics Problems: The Physics Of Billiards
这个网页,由 Real World Physics Problems 网站赞助,提供了大量的和桌球有关的物理知识。

University of Oregon: Conservation of Linear Momentum
这个小程序,由俄勒冈大学制作,模拟了各种不同数值的动量,质量和速度的线性动量守恒。

HyperPhysics
这个网页,由佐治亚州立大学的HyperPhysics网页提供赞助,提供了有关角动量的详细概述。