How Does Friction Affect the Motion of a Bowling Ball?
Friction and Speed The less friction a bowling ball has, the faster it moves. Friction is affected by the ball’s shape (bowling balls are perfectly round, which reduces rolling friction), its weight (the heavier it is, the more speed it builds as it rolls) and the smoothness of its surface. All of these factors reduce friction because they reduce the resistance of contact with the lane. Oil Collection How much friction a bowling ball has as it moves is largely determined by how oily the lane is, but also by how oily the ball itself is. All bowling lanes are kept well-oiled in order to help balls roll easily. A bowling ball’s surface can collect this oil over time from contact with the lane floor, due to the fact that the surface of the ball is slightly porous. A ball may also lose it’s friction simply through being polished smoother over years of use. Increasing Friction Many bowlers want to reduce their ball’s speed and make it less slippery in order to gain more control of the its mo
