How gravity affects ball rolling on horizontal flat surface?

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If you assume that the grass is perfectly flat, it will be perpendicular to the centre of the earth at all points. So, the gravitational force will not do any work on the ball, and it won't keep moving.

If you take into account objects other than the earth, these will have a minuscule effect; nowhere near the earth's. The friction will negate these many times over - so no, gravitational forces will not make the ball keep rolling.

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Nimesh Chandramaniya
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Nimesh Chandramaniya

Updated on April 21, 2020

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  • Nimesh Chandramaniya
    Nimesh Chandramaniya over 3 years

    I have one set up where the golf ball is rolling on the flat grass surface table.

    Due to friction of the grass surface, the ball should stop after sometime.

    Is there a chance that the ball will keep rolling because of the gravitational force?

    I would appreciate any suggestions and thoughts on this topic.

    EDIT:

    I am a game developer and trying to simulate real world mini golf game. I have game setup similar to the real world. But in my game world, after applying little force the ball continuous to roll at slow speed. Graph of ball speed over time.

    Hence, I wanted to have suggestions whether in the real world whether gravity can create such scenario.

    • SmarthBansal
      SmarthBansal over 5 years
      Why do you think gravity will exert a force in the forward direction?
    • Nimesh Chandramaniya
      Nimesh Chandramaniya over 5 years
      I am a game developer and trying to simulate real world mini golf game. I have game setup similar to real world. But in my game world, after applying little force the ball continuous to roll at slow speed. Hence, I wanted to have suggestions whether in the real world whether gravity can create such scenario.
    • anna v
      anna v over 5 years
      You do not define whether the plot you link is from your real table. For gravity not to have an influence you have to use a completely horizontal table. Use a spirit level. If you see no stop a) your balls are too heavy for the friction offered by the grass, or your grass too thin.
    • Nimesh Chandramaniya
      Nimesh Chandramaniya over 5 years
      Yes, the plot is completely horizontal. The ball is 45 grams in weight and the grass friction is affecting the ball motion most of the time but after certain value of the ball velocity, the ball continues to roll. Please refer to the graph.
    • Kyle Kanos
      Kyle Kanos over 5 years
      Might Game Development be better suited for this question?
    • Nimesh Chandramaniya
      Nimesh Chandramaniya over 5 years
      True. However, I wanted to check the real world physics rules.
  • Noah P
    Noah P over 5 years
    This is assuming a horizontal table - it's blindingly obvious that if the table is vertical then it won't stop...