Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The horizontal dynamics of a bouncing ball interacting with an irregular surface are investigated and are found to demonstrate behavior analogous to a random walk. Its stochastic character is substantiated by the calculation of a permutation entropy. The probability density function associated with the particle positions evolves to a Gaussian distribution, and the second moment follows a power-law dependence on time, indicative of diffusive behavior. The results emphasize that deterministic systems with complex geometries or nonlinearities can generate behavior that is statistically indistinguishable from random. Several problems are suggested to extend the analysis.
Source: American Journal of Physics
DOI: 10.1119/5.0295573
Author: Luiz Antonio Barreiro
Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
Language: English
Subfield: Mathematical Physics
Field: Mathematics
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4416416476