Wednesday, October 24, 2012

[jdlsvoun] Nonrolling round shape

A sphere has no corners or edges that get broken off.  Unfortunately, it rolls away on non-flat surfaces.

A flattened sphere won't roll away.  Ellipsoid with two axes the same, one axis shorter.  However, if it ever gets on its side and propelled, it might go quite a ways rolling like a wheel.  Angular moment of inertia.

Ellipsoid with all three axes doesn't have the problem.  What is the optimal shape?

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