The motion of a curling rock: Analytical approach

A simplified version of a previously proposed model is presented and used to illustrate the salient features of the motion of a slowly rotating curling rock. A one-parameter Amodel is presented. Analytical approximations for the chief aspects of the motion are derived. The simplified analytical model accounts quite well for the principal features of the motion of a slowly rotating curling rock, in particular that most of the curl occurs in the final few metres of the rockʹs motion. A discussion is also given concerning a popular misconception as to why curling rocks curl.