The chaotic mixture and reaction regarding the introduction of Bobble Ball®, the nonspherical egg shaped billiard ball, is not unlike the mixture of chaotic reaction Bobble Ball itself gives while performing on the pool table. The introduction of Bobble Ball to the game of billiards simultaneously introduces an element of unpredictability and intrigue. Typically, games are played with spherical balls and the laws of physics allow highly skilled players to control the balls to achieve the desired result of winning the game. Bobble Ball brings to the game an element of irregularity which causes the skilled player to consider possible alternative ball behavior and gives the unskilled player a certain amount of "luck" when Bobble Ball rolls in a direction to his favor.
Introducing Bobble Ball provides structure with both good and bad chaotic results similar to the use of dice in a game. The roll of the dice is unpredictable, but the player continues within the structure of the game based on the outcome of his last chaotic roll. Players using traditional spherical balls may plan their next one, two, or three moves because they may depend on the rules of physics to accurately achieve the desired results. Onlookers and opponents are also great predictors of future moves or moves that players should have performed. When Bobble Ball is introduced into the mix, players and onlookers must not contemplate "Plan B and Plan C" ball movement in case "Plan A" fails due to the chaotic movement of Bobble Ball disrupting the desired ball placement.
The purpose of Bobble Ball is to allow for a mixture of regular and chaotic dynamical systems to occur when Bobble Ball is used in conjunction with other balls, most predominantly spherical billiard balls. In a dynamical system, an object moves according to a rule. Within a setting of moving balls, the rules of motion are that a ball will move in a straight line until it hits another object. The ball will then bounce off of the object while obeying the rule: "angle of reflection equals angle of incidence." As the ball bounces away from the object, it may move in a regular, predictable fashion, or it may move in an irregular, chaotic fashion. Mathematicians and physicists study whether these movements are chaotic or regular. The introduction of Bobble Ball provides further intrigue to these studies. The questions that may be studied by introducing Bobble Ball are "When are contacts by or to Bobble Ball regular and predictable?" and "When are contacts by or to Bobble Ball irregular and chaotic?"
Within a setting where all spherically balanced balls are present and these balls are contacting one another or stationary objects in their path, the science of physics as it relates specifically to kinematics is demonstrated. The study of these theories would include, but are not limited to:
Linear Momentum
Glancing Collisions
Torque and Angular Acceleration
Friction
Moment of Inertia
Conservation of Energy
Rotational Kinetic Energy
By incorporating Bobble Ball into the mixture of the above entree of kinematic theories, both the studies and actual play of Bobble Ball introduce an element of chaos which is not only intriguing to quantify and observe, but fun to play with. The mathematics and theory behind Bobble Ball is interesting, but mind-numbing. So why are you still reading?
GO PLAY BOBBLE BALL !!!!!
© Copyright 2007 by Devra Robledo -
Used by Permission
