Does the distance affect the landing of a bouncing die?

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In summary, the die will follow the exact path each time it is dropped, and will land on the same side.
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Lets say you have a die and a galton board (a vertical array of pegs used to demonstrate the normal distribution), you build some kind of apparatus that will allow you to drop the die from the exact location, with the exact degree of tilt, ect, repeatedly. You also have a super slow motion camera to capture its decent.

Question: Will the die follow the exact path each time, and land on the same side? I have heard that quantum mechanics says that the die would only have probabilities of where it would land.
 
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  • #2
It's more chaos theory, how accurately can you drop it at exactly the same angle in the same point. Then you have to worry about air motion, then the thermal motion of atoms on the surface of the die and the pegs.
 
  • #3
Yeah. Quantum effects are not going to manifest themselves very readily in your situation. the more exact you build the dropper, board and what not, the more consistant your die drop will be. If you use something as large as a cubic die, you can ensure that you get the same value. Something smaller like a BB would get you more random results.
 
  • #4
Jakell said:
If you use something as large as a cubic die, you can ensure that you get the same value. Something smaller like a BB would get you more random results.

So would a BB actually be affected by quantum mechanics? I am just wondering if quantum mechanics theoretically happens on the scale of inches, feet, miles, ect, or if it is only something that occurs at the level of photons, electrons, ect.
 
  • #5
I would have though that the distane in which the die is dropped would have an effect, as the further it is dropped the greater any imperfection will be exagerated, this is the same as with the size of the bases of the die. This itself I do not think is in any way related to Quantum mechanics but I think it still apllies.
 

FAQ: Does the distance affect the landing of a bouncing die?

What causes a die to bounce?

Dice are made of a hard material, such as plastic or metal, which allows them to have a high coefficient of restitution. This means that when they hit a surface, they compress and then quickly spring back, creating the bouncing motion.

Why do some dice bounce higher than others?

The height of a die's bounce is determined by its coefficient of restitution and the surface it bounces on. A higher coefficient of restitution results in a higher bounce, and a harder surface will also contribute to a higher bounce.

Can the shape of a die affect its bouncing ability?

Yes, the shape of a die can affect its bouncing ability. For example, a cube-shaped die will have a more predictable bounce compared to a die with irregular shapes or edges. This is because the symmetry of a cube allows for a more even distribution of force and energy during the bounce.

Is there a difference in the physics of bouncing for loaded dice?

Loaded dice, which are designed to favor certain outcomes, will have a different physics of bouncing compared to regular dice. This is because they may have uneven weight distribution, resulting in an unpredictable bounce and altering the probability of certain outcomes.

How does the force of gravity play a role in the physics of die bouncing?

The force of gravity affects the height and duration of a die's bounce. As the die falls towards the surface, gravity pulls it down, and as it bounces back up, gravity slows it down. The height of the bounce is determined by the balance between the force of gravity and the force of the die's bounce.

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