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Autores principales: Thorne, Benjamin G., Zareei, Ahmad, Mahadevan, Kausalya, Rubinstein, Shmuel M., Amir, Ariel
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2026
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Acceso en línea:https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.14520
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author Thorne, Benjamin G.
Zareei, Ahmad
Mahadevan, Kausalya
Rubinstein, Shmuel M.
Amir, Ariel
author_facet Thorne, Benjamin G.
Zareei, Ahmad
Mahadevan, Kausalya
Rubinstein, Shmuel M.
Amir, Ariel
contents The motion of a disk spinning to rest after being tipped on its side is a classic example of a finite-time singularity, yet the dominant dissipation mechanism governing this process remains debated. Using stereoscopic high-speed imaging, we study the dynamics of disks with varying mass and radius on different surfaces. We show that the late-time motion near the singularity is governed by viscous air-drag arising from shear in the boundary layer beneath the disk, as evidenced by the mass dependence of the dynamics, measurements in a partial vacuum, and a geometric control using a steel ring. At earlier times, dissipation is dominated by rolling friction, which on glass exhibits an unexpected sublinear scaling with disk mass, suggesting an adhesion-based rolling resistance. These results clarify the dissipation mechanisms underlying the singularity of Euler's disk and have broader implications for rolling-contact systems operating under low loads on smooth surfaces.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_14520
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Air Drag Controls the Finite-Time Singularity of Euler's Disk
Thorne, Benjamin G.
Zareei, Ahmad
Mahadevan, Kausalya
Rubinstein, Shmuel M.
Amir, Ariel
Soft Condensed Matter
Classical Physics
Fluid Dynamics
The motion of a disk spinning to rest after being tipped on its side is a classic example of a finite-time singularity, yet the dominant dissipation mechanism governing this process remains debated. Using stereoscopic high-speed imaging, we study the dynamics of disks with varying mass and radius on different surfaces. We show that the late-time motion near the singularity is governed by viscous air-drag arising from shear in the boundary layer beneath the disk, as evidenced by the mass dependence of the dynamics, measurements in a partial vacuum, and a geometric control using a steel ring. At earlier times, dissipation is dominated by rolling friction, which on glass exhibits an unexpected sublinear scaling with disk mass, suggesting an adhesion-based rolling resistance. These results clarify the dissipation mechanisms underlying the singularity of Euler's disk and have broader implications for rolling-contact systems operating under low loads on smooth surfaces.
title Air Drag Controls the Finite-Time Singularity of Euler's Disk
topic Soft Condensed Matter
Classical Physics
Fluid Dynamics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.14520