Riddles of Ball and Cue

Synopsis

Why does the snooker ball behave in the way that it does? World Champion Steve Davis and sports scientist Peter Lawrenson attempt to solve the riddles of the snooker table. Lawrensen believes that is is virtually impossible for a player to pot a ball off the opening break when the red balls are so tightly grouped together. His theory is justified when Steve’s considerable skills fail to overcome the challenge consistently. Using a slow motion camera, and specially marked ball, Peter and Steve analyse the reactions of the reds to the cue ball. What they discover is a process so complicated that Peter would not attempt to predict the mathematics of the operation. Steve demonstrates top spin and back spin, stun shots and drag shots, and learns how frictional forces act against the ball as it moves over the table. With the help of close-up photography, Peter Lawrenson reveals how the nap of the cloth affects the motion of the ball - explaining one problem which has always puzzled Steve.

Series

Qed, Series

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 30 min.

Year of production

1986

Availability

OUT OF DISTRIBUTION

Subjects

Physics; Sports science

Keywords

movement; snooker

Credits

Producer

Carles Huff

Production Company

Name

BBC Television

Distributor

Name

BBC Active Video for Learning - now BBC Learning

Contact

Carolina Fernandez Jeremy Wilcox (CF - for educational enquiries JW - channel sales manager)

Email

BBCStudiosLearning@bbc.com

Web

https://www.bbcstudioslearning.com/ External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 20 8433 1009

Address

BBC Studios Limited
Television Centre
101 Wood Lane
London
W12 7FA
UK

Notes

The BBC Active company has now been absorbed within BBC Learning, a division of BBC Studios. It was originally a joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Pearson Education. Formerly known as ‘BBC Worldwide Learning Studies’ and before that as ‘Videos for Education & Training’