Philosophy Now Forum

Take a good hard metal ball made out of steel and bounce it against the pavement. Will it ever stop bouncing? Does it bounce a finite number of times? Does it depend? (maybe a vacuum would make it easier)

PhilX

Does this have anything to do with philosophy L?

This seems more like attention whoring than an attemt to do philosophy.

Would you like me to do a "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" type of thread instead?

PhilX

Why would the ball have to be metal? How could it possibly bounce an infinite number of times? A ball loses energy after each bounce.

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:Why would the ball have to be metal? How could it possibly bounce an infinite number of times? A ball loses energy after each bounce.

It's been given to me that metal balls bounce better than other types of balls. With respect to your second question, can it bounce an infinite number of times in a finite amount of time? (to be fair about it, this question has been discussed before)

PhilX

Philosophy Explorer wrote:

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:Why would the ball have to be metal? How could it possibly bounce an infinite number of times? A ball loses energy after each bounce.

It's been given to me that metal balls bounce better than other types of balls. With respect to your second question, can it bounce an infinite number of times in a finite amount of time? (to be fair about it, this question has been discussed before)

PhilX

Transfer of energy would be the short answer.

Philosophy Explorer wrote:Would you like me to do a "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" type of thread instead?

I would like you to either shut up, fuck off or shape up.

The choise is yours!

yes it does. Next question.

I guess this just shows that maths can't explain everything. Maths and physics. Two peas in different pods. Maths is too exact for the way the Universe actually works.

Philosophy Explorer wrote:Take a good hard metal ball made out of steel and bounce it against the pavement. Will it ever stop bouncing? Does it bounce a finite number of times? Does it depend? (maybe a vacuum would make it easier)

PhilX

Does it make a noise each time it hits the pavement? If so, then some of its energy is being converted into air vibrations, so for that reason alone it will eventually stop bouncing.

Incidentally, I'm not convinced that a steel ball will bounce even as often as a rubber one - have you tried it out yet?

RickLewis wrote:

Philosophy Explorer wrote:Take a good hard metal ball made out of steel and bounce it against the pavement. Will it ever stop bouncing? Does it bounce a finite number of times? Does it depend? (maybe a vacuum would make it easier)

PhilX

Does it make a noise each time it hits the pavement? If so, then some of its energy is being converted into air vibrations, so for that reason alone it will eventually stop bouncing.

Incidentally, I'm not convinced that a steel ball will bounce even as often as a rubber one - have you tried it out yet?

Never had the opportunity. Over at another website, I was informed that way by a person with the handle of Geordie Ross. Sure wouldn't mind giving it a try.

PhilX

Philosophy Explorer wrote:Take a good hard metal ball made out of steel and bounce it against the pavement. Will it ever stop bouncing? Does it bounce a finite number of times? Does it depend? (maybe a vacuum would make it easier)

PhilX

How would you make it bounce to begin with without first destroying it?