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Why doesn't gravity play a role on a balls speed when it rolls on a horizontal surface?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
For a spherical object to "roll" there needs to be a torque applied to that object. In the case of a ball on an inclined plane, the ball feels a torque due to friction. Gravity acts in a radial direction towards the center of mass of the gravitating object. This causes a force to exist parallel to the plane of the board the ball rests on. That force accelerates the center of mass of the ball in a direction parallel to the plane of the board (only because the board prevents the ball from accelerating towards the Earth's center of mass). If the inclined plane were frictionless, the ball would not rotate, only slip down the plane. Since there is friction, it acts at the edge of the ball which exerts a torque on the ball. This torque causes the ball to rotate.
When the ball is on a horizontal surface there is no component of the gravitational force vector parallel to the surface. Thus, there is no force which can accelerate the ball along the plane of the board. This means the ball has absolutely no reason to move, so it sits still. That is why it does not roll.
To say "Why does not gravity play a role when it rolls on a horizontal surface?" is a very "dangerous" way to word a question. Were gravity to "shut off" the ball would have no reason to stay where was. It would also (in theory) have no reason to rotate since friction requires a force normal (perpendicular) to the plane of the board. Gravity does not simply "quit" because the board no longer has a component of its plane parallel to the direction of gravity.
Wiki User
∙ 16y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoIt does, actually. If gravity did not affect the ball, the ball would float off to space. Gravity keeps the ball attached to the horizontal surface while it rolls.
But in that case there is no force which would cause it to leave the surface. It might not roll , but rather skim, because there would be no grip between ball and surface
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoGravity pulls downwards and the horizontal surface prevents any motion downwards. Since it has no horizontal component it plays no role in purely horizontal motion.
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