Stick-Slip, Imposition-Removal of Constraints and the Spinning Ball Problem

Abstract

It has been observed that balls pressed between elastic bodies spin when subjected to linear, cyclic motion. This paper proposes an explanation to this phenomenon, based upon the stick-slip theory. To this end, a modified, vectorial formulation of the stick-slip theory is presented. The formulation is applied to a model comprising a ball pressed between pairs of springs and dampers. A computer program based on this formulation is used to predict the resulting motion. Predictions are shown to agree with experimental results. [S0021-8936(01)00701-2]