Jaminz...do it

[Jenksz]

A 'snooker' table (measuring 8 metres by 4m) with 4 'pockets' (measuring 0.5m and placed at diagonal slants in all 4 corners) contains 10 balls (each with a diameter of 0.25m) placed at the following coords:

2m,1m...(white ball)
...and red balls...
1m,5m... 2m,5m... 3m,5m
1m,6m... 2m,6m... 3m,6m
1m,7m... 2m,7m... 3m,7m


The white ball is then shot at a particular angle from 0 to 360 degrees (0 being north, and going clockwise).
Just to make it clear, a ball is 'potted' if at least half of the ball is in area of the 'pocket'

Assuming the balls travel indefinitely (i.e. no loss of energy via friction, air resistance or collisions), answer the following:

a: What exact angle/s should you choose to ensure that all the balls are potted the quickest?
b: What is the minimum amount of contacts the balls can make with each other before they are all knocked in?
c: Same as b, except that each ball - just before it is knocked in - must not have hit the white ball on its previous contact (must be a red instead of course).
d: What proportion of angles will leave the white ball the last on the table to be potted?

[jaminz]

I feel like that kid in your avatar right about now.

[Jenksz]

The answers 4.

[Big Rig]

The answers 4.

uhh.... word? i totally like thought the answer was 37. man i was way off..

[imdumby]

like this?

i don't understand d:proportions of angles?

i'm guessing you don't care about gravity and the resistance it creates, speed and transfered force to each ball, lost force on the edges of the table, spin.

[Jedakiah]

Wouldn't you still need to know the weight of the ball?

BTW from what I hear the answer is actually 42.

[Jenksz]

like this?

i don't understand d:proportions of angles?

i'm guessing you don't care about gravity and the resistance it creates, speed and transfered force to each ball, lost force on the edges of the table, spin.

I just got back from years leave, and no gravity to this question is irrelevant because technically the balls are on a surface (IE the table) and therefore no force is being put on them to be forced downwards.

[jaminz]

Airpressure.