Where can I find information on the billiards and pool physics work of the great mathematician and physicist Coriolis?
The following instructional articles summarize and illustrate many of Coriolis’ original contributions from his 1835 book (which was written in French):
- “Coriolis was brilliant … but he didn’t have a high-speed camera – Part I: introduction” (BD, July, 2005).
- “Coriolis was brilliant … but he didn’t have a high-speed camera – Part II: high-speed video” (BD, August, 2005).
- “Coriolis was brilliant … but he didn’t have a high-speed camera – Part III: cue ball paths are like satellite dishes” (BD, September, 2005).
- “Coriolis was brilliant … but he didn’t have a high-speed camera – Part IV: maximum cue tip offset” (BD, October, 2005).
- “Coriolis was brilliant … but he didn’t have a high-speed camera – Part V: massé shot aiming” (BD, November, 2005).
- “Coriolis was brilliant … but he didn’t have a high-speed camera – Part VI: maximum rolling deflection” (BD, December, 2005).
An English translation of his famous book became available in 2005: “Mathematical Theory of Spin, Friction, and Collision in the Game of Billiards,” translated by David Nadler (original author of French version: Gaspard-Gustave Coriolis, 1835).
The following technical article also summarizes and illustrates many of the pool physics principles discovered by Coriolis and others: Pool and Billiards Physics Principles by Coriolis and Others.
One useful technique Coriolis gave the pool world is the Coriolis massé shot aiming system.
Fun pool physics themed shirts/caps/mugs are available at DrDaveBilliardTshirts.com:
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