Quote:
Originally Posted by jerry w
The angle of the support to the rail indicates that gravity is involved. A sphere is the object that tends to move most easily in response to the force of gravity when placed on a track. If the ball has a firm surface, the small bumps at the joints would have little effect. Once static friction is overcome, the inertia of the rolling ball will take it over the bumps.
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Only if the rails are at an angle downward, but theres no evidence to suggest that. I mean, of course gravity is involved, these objects have mass. All angles on these supports are are normal or orthagonal to the rails, if anything that means that the structure must be either parallel or perpendicular to it's supports and load, meaning it would be level, or straight up and down. Not exactly the best way to design rails you hope balls were slide/roll down.
IF this is a rail system, its most likely perfectly level, and therefore designed to hold, not transport the game pieces.
As for problems with how shallow the rails are, I agree that that would make it pretty easy for balls to bounce out. But I dont think the problem would be as bad for cylinders. Furthermore, de-scoring as been part of games in the past.