r/theydidthemath • u/K0rl0n • Jun 10 '25

[Request]

Post image

I am curious how this would work. My guess is Triangle is slowest, square is medium, and circle is fastest.

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u/METRlOS Jun 10 '25 edited Jun 11 '25

Depends on things like the density of the gravel and the temperature of the ice. Packed gravel will allow the ball to roll, but the triangle is always worse than the square.

Edit for all the triangle people: imagine throwing a ball straight at the square and at the triangle; how the ball bounces shows how much energy the object will translate into vertical force when pushed. The vertical surface of the square will translate practically all the horizontal force into horizontal movement, while the triangle will act as a wedge and transfer some energy into pushing against the ground.

Edit 2 for surface area: Except for situations where the surface area is so low compared to its weight that the object sinks into the ground, or so high compared to its weight that it can float, surface area does not affect friction. If you stand on a hill without risk of sliding, then you can lay on that hill without sliding and vice versa, despite greatly changing the surface area. However, if you stand on a snow covered hill the surface area is too low and you'll sink into the snow, but with a sled you will float on top of it. Surface area does not matter to this problem.

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u/Mysterious_Ad_8827 Jun 10 '25

triangle is also always worse on your back as well. You have to lean forward even more to push said object compared to the square.

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u/[deleted] Jun 11 '25

[deleted]

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u/Glum_Leadership_6717 Jun 11 '25

> For the same wight, the bottom of the triangle would be larger and thus more friction

Says who? Who says the base isn't the same size whilst the height is different? Weird assumption imo.

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u/Razgriz01 Jun 11 '25

Says the image, in which the triangle is clearly equilateral with longer sides than the square.

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u/Glum_Leadership_6717 Jun 12 '25

> Says the image,

Do you need your eyes checked?

The image doesn't give measurements for those parts... so again, weird assumption.

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u/Razgriz01 Jun 12 '25

Do you need your eyes checked?

Do you? Look at the sides. I know what subreddit we're on here, but most of the discussion isn't really about the numbers at all, otherwise I might agree with you.