When two billiard balls of equal mass collide obliquely, the balls will always separate at what angle?
If thee were a unique answer, billiards would be a snap.
When two billiard balls of equal mass collide obliquely, the angle at which they will always separate depends on the angle at which they initially collided and the coefficients of restitution of the surfaces.
To find the angle of separation, you will need to calculate the angles of incidence and reflection. The angle of incidence is the angle between the incoming direction of the first ball and the line perpendicular to the surface it collides with. The angle of reflection is the angle between the outgoing direction of the first ball and the same perpendicular line.
The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection, measured with respect to the normal line. This means that the angle of incidence and angle of reflection will be equal in magnitude but opposite in direction.
To calculate the angle of separation, subtract the angle of reflection of the first ball from the angle of reflection of the second ball. This will give you the angle between the two balls' paths after the collision.
Please note that in reality, other factors such as the coefficient of restitution and friction may affect the separation angle. The coefficient of restitution represents the elasticity of the balls and determines how much energy is transferred during the collision.