大学物理 ›› 2025, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (1): 61-.doi: 10.16854/j.cnki.1000-0712.240145

• 物理.自然.技术.社会 • 上一篇    下一篇

“猫有九命”的力学原理

曾在平,代林芳   

  1. 河南大学 材料学院,河南 开封475004
  • 收稿日期:2024-03-25 修回日期:2024-06-05 出版日期:2025-03-20 发布日期:2025-03-27
  • 作者简介:曾在平(1987—),男,河南信阳人,河南大学材料学院教授,博士,主要从事计算物理与器件模拟研究工作.

The mechanics behind “cats having nine lives”

ZENG Zaiping, DAI Linfang   

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, China
  • Received:2024-03-25 Revised:2024-06-05 Online:2025-03-20 Published:2025-03-27

摘要: “猫有九命”这一谚语源自古代,充满幽默、想象力和神秘感,实际上却蕴含一定的力学原理.本文将整理和探讨历史上关于这一问题的各种力学解释,并将其归结为:四肢开合论、转尾巴论、绕双轴转动论和弯脊柱论.尽管这些解释各有缺陷,但它们都基于角动量守恒定律,为这个古老的谚语赋予了更科学的依据,也为人们提供一种深入思考和探讨自然现象的科学方式,期待着人们对自然规律的更深层次理解和探索. 

关键词: 角动量守恒, 力学原理, 理想模型, 反转猫

Abstract: The saying “cats have nine lives” originated from ancient times, filled with humor, imagination, and mystery, but it actually contains certain principles of mechanics. This article organizes and explores various mechanical explanations throughout history on this issue, categorizes them into four interpretations: the limbs opening and closing theory, the tail rotating theory, the doubleaxis rotation theory, and the spine bending theory, all of which are based on conservation of angular momentum. Although these explanations have their shortcomings, overall, they provide a more scientific basis for this ancient saying. Through indepth exploration, we hope to make people realize that mechanics, as one of the earliest branches of physics, is closely related to human life, offering a scientific way for people to deeply think about and explore natural phenomena. The principles of mechanics not only explain the marvels of cats, but also remind us of the ubiquitous mysteries of science around us, looking forward to people gaining a deeper understanding and exploration of the laws of nature.

Key words:  , conservation of angular momentum, principles of mechanics, ideal model, reverse cat