Picture this A ball is rolling down a perfectly vertical surface defying the laws of common sense Sound impossible Well researchers at the University of Waterloo have done just that through careful experimentation and a touch of genius they unveiled a fascinating phenomenon where spheres can roll on vertical surfaces without external force
But before we jump into the specifics let’s break this down using some key physics concepts that make it all possible
The Foundations Kinetic Energy Potential Energy and Conservation Laws
The secret to understanding any motion lies in these three pillars of physics
The phenomenon of rolling balls vertically heavily relies on these principles alongside a unique factor elasticity
What Happened in the Research A Real World Discovery
Researchers from the University of Waterloo observed something groundbreaking They found that through material engineering it was possible to get a pea sized sphere to roll down a completely vertical surface without sliding or dropping straight due to gravity
They discovered the phenomena depended largely on the elasticity of both the sphere and the vertical surface
Here’s how
1 If the sphere was too soft It would stick to the surface and fail to move
2 If it was too hard It would lose traction and fall straight down
5 With the perfect elasticity the sphere changed shape minutely at the point of contact acting like a zipped This created enough grip and torque to make it rotate slowly downward without additional force Spooky right
Here are some relatable examples that apply similar principles
- Roller Coasters When coasters accelerate downhill they showcase the conversion of high potential energy when dangling up from tall vertical towers into accelerated speed kinetic energy
- Pendulums When pendulums vibrate to and fro they alternate energy momentum flowing gracefully conserving momentum fascinating Physics students
