Geometry and Billiards

Geometry and Billiards

Author: Serge Tabachnikov

Publisher: American Mathematical Soc.

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 192

ISBN-13: 0821839195

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Mathematical billiards describe the motion of a mass point in a domain with elastic reflections off the boundary or, equivalently, the behavior of rays of light in a domain with ideally reflecting boundary. From the point of view of differential geometry, the billiard flow is the geodesic flow on a manifold with boundary. This book is devoted to billiards in their relation with differential geometry, classical mechanics, and geometrical optics. Topics covered include variational principles of billiard motion, symplectic geometry of rays of light and integral geometry, existence and nonexistence of caustics, optical properties of conics and quadrics and completely integrable billiards, periodic billiard trajectories, polygonal billiards, mechanisms of chaos in billiard dynamics, and the lesser-known subject of dual (or outer) billiards. The book is based on an advanced undergraduate topics course. Minimum prerequisites are the standard material covered in the first two years of college mathematics (the entire calculus sequence, linear algebra). However, readers should show some mathematical maturity and rely on their mathematical common sense. A unique feature of the book is the coverage of many diverse topics related to billiards, for example, evolutes and involutes of plane curves, the four-vertex theorem, a mathematical theory of rainbows, distribution of first digits in various sequences, Morse theory, the Poincare recurrence theorem, Hilbert's fourth problem, Poncelet porism, and many others. There are approximately 100 illustrations. The book is suitable for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers interested in ergodic theory and geometry. This volume has been copublished with the Mathematics Advanced Study Semesters program at Penn State.


An Introduction To Mathematical Billiards

An Introduction To Mathematical Billiards

Author: Rozikov Utkir A

Publisher: World Scientific

Published: 2018-12-06

Total Pages: 224

ISBN-13: 9813276487

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A mathematical billiard is a mechanical system consisting of a billiard ball on a table of any form (which can be planar or even a multidimensional domain) but without billiard pockets. The ball moves and its trajectory is defined by the ball's initial position and its initial speed vector. The ball's reflections from the boundary of the table are assumed to have the property that the reflection and incidence angles are the same. This book comprehensively presents known results on the behavior of a trajectory of a billiard ball on a planar table (having one of the following forms: circle, ellipse, triangle, rectangle, polygon and some general convex domains). It provides a systematic review of the theory of dynamical systems, with a concise presentation of billiards in elementary mathematics and simple billiards related to geometry and physics.The description of these trajectories leads to the solution of various questions in mathematics and mechanics: problems related to liquid transfusion, lighting of mirror rooms, crushing of stones in a kidney, collisions of gas particles, etc. The analysis of billiard trajectories can involve methods of geometry, dynamical systems, and ergodic theory, as well as methods of theoretical physics and mechanics, which has applications in the fields of biology, mathematics, medicine, and physics.


The Yoga of Pool

The Yoga of Pool

Author: Paul Rodney Turner

Publisher: Food for Life Global

Published: 2010-09-04

Total Pages: 120

ISBN-13: 9780985045104

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If you're like me, you've probably read all the books on how to improve your game, including the classics from Phil Capelle. I don't propose that this book will cover every facet of the game of billiards; Capelle's books do a great job of that. However, what I will declare is that The YOGA of POOL - Secrets to becoming a Champion in Billiards and in Life will provide you all the essential tools you need to become a great player, while simultaneously helping to make you a better person. The book provides the fundamental ingredients of what makes a great player. The chapters are concise and digestible and not filled with unnecessary fluff. The idea behind the book is to give you an easy-to-understand roadmap to success in the form of short essays describing key elements of the game. I need to point out that the sections dealing with aiming are taken from my other book, World's Best Aiming System for Billiards. I felt it was necessary to include the same information for completeness of this book. If you already purchased my other book the World's Best Aiming System for Billiards, you may skip those sections. In any case, the knowledge contained within this book will certainly expand your understanding of the Three-Cut System and support your development in all other facets of the game. One glaring omission from many books on billiards is a lack of information on the mental and spiritual side of the game, including proven techniques for visualization, mind management, and confidence building exercises. You'll find them in this book, and rightly so, because to ignore the mind and spirit is akin to ignoring the driver of the vehicle. Every world-class motor racing team knows that a good driver is the difference between success and failure. As the subtitle suggests, this book is much more than the secrets for success in billiards; it is, in a way, a kind of "Covey-like" directive for the billiards enthusiast on what makes one successful in life. You may just come away from reading this book feeling a renewed sense of self-worth and optimism. I hope so. I promise you this: if you apply the following ingredients of success to your game, and in your life, you will experience monumental improvements in every aspect. My hope is that the book will serve to make you the very best player and person you can possibly be. -------------- Join Paul on a journey of championship billiards and self- discovery as he reveals the essential ingredients of what makes a great pool player and a great human being.


Convex and Discrete Geometry

Convex and Discrete Geometry

Author: Peter M. Gruber

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2007-05-17

Total Pages: 590

ISBN-13: 3540711333

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Convex and Discrete Geometry is an area of mathematics situated between analysis, geometry and discrete mathematics with numerous relations to other subdisciplines. This book provides a comprehensive overview of major results, methods and ideas of convex and discrete geometry and its applications. Besides being a graduate-level introduction to the field, it is a practical source of information and orientation for convex geometers, and useful to people working in the applied fields.


Geometry Revealed

Geometry Revealed

Author: Marcel Berger

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2010-07-23

Total Pages: 840

ISBN-13: 3540709975

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Both classical geometry and modern differential geometry have been active subjects of research throughout the 20th century and lie at the heart of many recent advances in mathematics and physics. The underlying motivating concept for the present book is that it offers readers the elements of a modern geometric culture by means of a whole series of visually appealing unsolved (or recently solved) problems that require the creation of concepts and tools of varying abstraction. Starting with such natural, classical objects as lines, planes, circles, spheres, polygons, polyhedra, curves, surfaces, convex sets, etc., crucial ideas and above all abstract concepts needed for attaining the results are elucidated. These are conceptual notions, each built "above" the preceding and permitting an increase in abstraction, represented metaphorically by Jacob's ladder with its rungs: the 'ladder' in the Old Testament, that angels ascended and descended... In all this, the aim of the book is to demonstrate to readers the unceasingly renewed spirit of geometry and that even so-called "elementary" geometry is very much alive and at the very heart of the work of numerous contemporary mathematicians. It is also shown that there are innumerable paths yet to be explored and concepts to be created. The book is visually rich and inviting, so that readers may open it at random places and find much pleasure throughout according their own intuitions and inclinations. Marcel Berger is t he author of numerous successful books on geometry, this book once again is addressed to all students and teachers of mathematics with an affinity for geometry.


Pleasures of Small Motions

Pleasures of Small Motions

Author: Ph. D. Fancher

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2022-06-01

Total Pages: 160

ISBN-13: 1493072714

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A psychotherapist and pool columnist breaks new ground by applying good science to the mental game of billiards and gives invaluable insight on competitive play.


Pool Techniques and Tricks

Pool Techniques and Tricks

Author: Pierre Morin

Publisher:

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781554079384

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An estimated 49 million Americans participate in cue sports, the most popular being pool, also known as pocket billiards. But for those who want to improve their game -- whether for recreation or competition -- little guidance is available. Pool Techniques and Tricks fills that gap. It is a comprehensive illustrated guide on how to play pool like a champion. It reveals the secrets of the world's best players and describes how their knowledge of table geometry and physics, along with a few well-guarded "secrets," are key to their success. The reader is introduced to vocabulary, rules, equipment, basic techniques and various strategies to help master every aspect of this fascinating hobby. Using clear diagrams, photographs and concise explanations, more than 100 professional trick shots are demonstrated. Each trick is rated as to difficulty, and the point of cue-to-ball contact is shown. The book also contains: An introduction to the history of pool A survey of champions in men's and women's world competition Equipment and accessories Hand and finger positions and using the bridge Geometry of the table and working with ball motion How to analyze and play difficult shots Strategy and competition. A separate chapter includes rules for all of the cue sports: 8-ball, 9-ball, 10-ball, 14.1, snooker and carambola. With Pool Techniques and Tricks, anyone can be a pro pool player, recreational or competitive. AUTHOR: Pierre Morin was a trial lawyer for 35 years. He began to play pool at a very early age, has participated in many tournaments and has won roughly a hundred. He is the author of four books on the subject. colour throughout