Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

How the new World Cup ball was designed to not influence the games
popular science ^ | June 18, 2018 | Dyani Sabin

Posted on 06/19/2018 10:41:19 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

Every four years there’s a new ball for the World Cup—and every four years players are unhappy with it. Maybe it’s too light and has too much lift, like the 2002 Fevernova. Or maybe it wobbles unexpectedly in the air, making it harder for goalies to predict its motion, like the 2006 Teamgist. Or maybe the ball suddenly changes speed, dropping out of the air and causing accidental handballs, like the 2010 Jabulani.

At the World Cup level, these tiny changes in a ball’s aerodynamics can legitimately impact a team’s performance, so the intense scrutiny of the World Cup ball is perhaps to be expected. “You could argue that it’s the most important piece of equipment in the most popular sport in the world,” says John Eric Goff, Professor of Physics at University of Lynchburg.

Adidas designs every World Cup ball, and on top of being a big seller for them, engineers at the company are constantly a little closer to the perfect ball, Goff says. The ideal soccer ball is a pimple-covered, perfect sphere, its surface just subtly textured enough to keep the airflow around the ball slightly turbulent. Unintuitive as this might sound, the ridges and pimples on the ball make it more aerodynamic, helping the ball to fly through the air more stably.

The Telstar 18, the design for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, is as close to a perfect sphere as you can get.

(Excerpt) Read more at popsci.com ...


TOPICS: Science; Sports
KEYWORDS: soccer; worldcup2018
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 201-220 next last
To: Cowboy Bob

I wonder if the announcer would dare stroll through Jo’burg now that all the infrastructure and especially the security/police presence are gone.

Oscar Pistorius is a murderer but there’s a reason he and others lived behind walls and gates and owned firearms.


41 posted on 06/19/2018 2:25:52 PM PDT by relictele
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: relictele

I can’t watch soccer. But I enjoyed playing it in high school. I was a good goalie. Let the other idiots run their brains out!


42 posted on 06/19/2018 3:22:43 PM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra (Don't touch that thing! Don't let anybody touch that thing!I'm a doctor and I won't touch that thing)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: RetiredArmy

Unfortunately, Lewandowski is the only good player on the Polish team, they were atrocious.


43 posted on 06/19/2018 3:25:09 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop

Yep It’s worse than that. Only eight different countries have ever won the cup: Brazil five times, Italy four times, Germany three times, Argentina two times, Uruguay two times, France once and England once. England won in 1966. Most of the counties competing with in the tournament are mere cannon fodder for the 4-6 elite countries.


44 posted on 06/19/2018 7:25:21 PM PDT by Henry Hnyellar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: Berlin_Freeper

Seems the soccer ball designers need to visit a Titleist golf ball manufacturing/engineering facility and learn how the dimples affect the dynamics of the ball when in flight.


45 posted on 06/19/2018 10:31:24 PM PDT by octex
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Roman_War_Criminal
I’m sure that’s Germany’s excuse for getting taken to the woodshed by Mexico the other day.

Or Messi missing the PK against Iceland.

46 posted on 06/19/2018 10:33:45 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: rfp1234

That’s because Tom Brady isn’t there.


47 posted on 06/19/2018 10:33:58 PM PDT by octex
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Berlin_Freeper

Russia all but qualify for knockout stage with win over Mo Salah’s Egypt
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/19/russia-egypt-world-cup-match-report


48 posted on 06/19/2018 11:42:06 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (alea iacta est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Berlin_Freeper
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Russia (H) 2 2 0 0 8 1 +7 6 Advance to knockout stage
2  Uruguay 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 3
3  Egypt 2 0 0 2 1 4 −3 0
4  Saudi Arabia 1 0 0 1 0 5 −5 0

49 posted on 06/20/2018 1:37:53 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (alea iacta est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Berlin_Freeper

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/martin-rogers/2018/06/18/world-cup-england-dramatic-world-cup-win-felt-like-loss/711874002/


50 posted on 06/20/2018 1:40:45 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (alea iacta est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: Berlin_Freeper
England stars do battle with flies before opener against Tunisia
51 posted on 06/20/2018 1:43:30 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (alea iacta est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: Berlin_Freeper
Colombia sunk by early red card and penalty as Japan scores 2-1 win

Senegal beat Poland for first African win at 2018 World Cup

52 posted on 06/20/2018 1:48:00 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (alea iacta est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: Berlin_Freeper
Group A GP W D L F A GD P
1RussiaRUS 2 2 0 0 8 1 +7 6
2UruguayURU 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 3
3EgyptEGY 2 0 0 2 1 4 -3 0
4Saudi ArabiaKSA 1 0 0 1 0 5 -5 0
Group B GP W D L F A GD P
1IranIRN 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 3
2PortugalPOR 1 0 1 0 3 3 0 1
3SpainESP 1 0 1 0 3 3 0 1
4MoroccoMAR 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1 0
Group C GP W D L F A GD P
1FranceFRA 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 3
2DenmarkDEN 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 3
3AustraliaAUS 1 0 0 1 1 2 -1 0
4PeruPER 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1 0
Group D GP W D L F A GD P
1CroatiaCRO 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 3
2IcelandISL 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
3ArgentinaARG 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
4NigeriaNGA 1 0 0 1 0 2 -2 0
Group E GP W D L F A GD P
1SerbiaSRB 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 3
2BrazilBRA 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
3SwitzerlandSUI 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
4Costa RicaCRC 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1 0
Group F GP W D L F A GD P
1SwedenSWE 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 3
2MexicoMEX 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 3
3South KoreaKOR 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1 0
4GermanyGER 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1 0
Group G GP W D L F A GD P
1BelgiumBEL 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 3
2EnglandENG 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 3
3TunisiaTUN 1 0 0 1 1 2 -1 0
4PanamaPAN 1 0 0 1 0 3 -3 0
Group H GP W D L F A GD P
1JapanJPN 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 3
2SenegalSEN 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 3
3PolandPOL 1 0 0 1 1 2 -1 0
4ColombiaCOL 1 0 0 1 1 2 -1 0

53 posted on 06/20/2018 1:55:19 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (alea iacta est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: Berlin_Freeper
Wednesday 20 June

Portugal vs Morocco
Winning the Euros two years ago means Portugal can no longer rely on a ‘dark horses’ tag.

Uruguay turn to golden oldies against Saudi Arabia
Uruguay will field a veteran side containing seven players aged 31 or over against Saudi Arabia

Spain in danger as Iran smell blood - one World Cup slip can prove costly
You can be as slick as you want, have all the stars you like, and can have shown immense character in shrugging off the last-minute removal of your manager -- but one slip now has the potential to render those advantages ancient history.

54 posted on 06/20/2018 2:23:15 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (alea iacta est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: Berlin_Freeper

Ronaldo scores a goal 1-0.
In minute 4.

His fourth goal now.


55 posted on 06/20/2018 5:07:38 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (alea iacta est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Berlin_Freeper
This boundary layer is why you get dust trapped on your ceiling fan.

That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it........

56 posted on 06/20/2018 5:15:19 AM PDT by Hot Tabasco (Mother nature is a serial killer......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PGR88
Soccer Player Suffers Career-Ending Boo-Boo

"Doctors initially thought the injury was just an ouchie, but after examining the player more extensively, they gravely concluded it was in fact the dreaded boo-boo."

57 posted on 06/20/2018 5:23:55 AM PDT by Constitution Day
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Berlin_Freeper

HT: Portugal 1-0 Morocco

When did you think you’d ever be excited to watch Morocco play soccer.
I have to say I really love the World Cup.

I might have to become a Ronaldo Super Fan.


58 posted on 06/20/2018 5:51:32 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (alea iacta est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

He’s bamboozled several PK’s in major tournaments. Not sure why he is still taking them. And quite frankly, if little Iceland can shut him down, then Croatia shouldn’t have much of an issue either.


59 posted on 06/20/2018 6:10:40 AM PDT by Roman_War_Criminal (Like Enoch, Noah, & Lot, the True Church will soon be removed & then destruction comes forth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: Berlin_Freeper

1-0 is not a good way to live in the WC but Portugal win and get three points.

FT: Portugal 1-0 Morocco


60 posted on 06/20/2018 6:54:26 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (alea iacta est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 201-220 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson