When I applied Physics while playing table tennis.... 

(Part 1)

Table tennis or the ping pong

I often go to play table tennis with one of my friends. It is quite an enriching sport. There are two tables at the place we go to play. One of them is a new one with a very smooth and glossy surface while the other is an older one and has a rough surface. We usually prefer to play on the new one. But once, it so happened that we had to play on the old one with a rough surface. We realized that we were able to play better. The speed of the ball was more on the rough surface. I wondered why this happened. The immediate thought that came to my mind was that it could be due to friction. The effect of friction is more on a rough surface than the smoother one. Also when we played on the smooth surface the ball, after hitting the surface would bounce back immediately due to lesser contact time between the ball and the table surface. But in case of the rough surface, since it contains more surface irregularities than the smooth surface, the coefficient of friction increases and hence the contact time. Although the contact time in case of table tennis is just a fraction of second, this fraction is more in a rough surface than the smooth one. 

When I tried to search more about it, I came across some research articles explaining the relation between coefficient of friction and sliding speed of the ball. It seems that both these quantities are directly proportional to each other.

But according to some of the observations it is also found that people are able to play much better on a smooth surface. There are many other applications of physics in table tennis which I will discuss in detail in my upcoming blogs. Nevertheless, do let me know your insights on this one in the comments section.

I feel very refreshed after playing a match of table tennis. It is a sport that requires concentration and focus.  Apart from the fitness benefits, the best part about any sport is that it creates an undying positive attitude and confidence within us, the attitude of never giving up, come what may!

©Neha kanase

References:

1. CN102989133A - Rough-surface table tennis - Google Patents

2. Increase-in-friction-force-with-sliding-speed.pdf (researchgate.net)

3. AP Physics Final Project-Physics of Table Tennis - Bing video

4. Image : Table tennis by Tyler Bailey on Dribble