#FIFAWorldCup starts in an hour or so, and hey, how can we miss a #math-related story with respect to #football then? Let's check out story #53.
Have you ever kicked a football? Ever observed the pentagons and hexagons in it? Ever wondered why were those even there? Math doesn’t leave us at all, uh!?
Historically, footballs were built from a combination of hexagonal and pentagonal panels because they fit together like a puzzle to make a completely spherical shape.
Footballs have pentagons and hexagons as part of a 32-panel design that effectively maintains a spherical shape when kicked, and improves aerodynamics as well as close control for players.
The traditional black-and-white color scheme design of the pentagons and hexagons also aids television audiences when it comes to keeping track of ball movement.
32 panels of leather or synthetic plastic are closely stitched together to make up the stitched football. These panels come in two different shapes: hexagons (20) and pentagons (12).
Why 32 panels?
A football with optimum roundness delivers the most reliable aerodynamic (straight flight and controlled bounce). The classic 32-panel construction – which provides a spherical shape – ensures that the ball is able to travel through the air for a longer period of time before encountering significant motion resistance.
In simpler terms, a 32-panel ball is better at retaining a speed that is high and steady for a longer time duration, which ultimately provides a more reliable flight pattern that is immensely valued by football participants.
Modern footballs, on the other hand, are thermally bonded rather than stitched. The manner the panels are joined together distinguishes thermally bonded footballs from their stitched equivalents. Comparatively speaking, this procedure requires a lot less labor than sewing the panels together.
Also, if you are a football fan, do check out story #34 as well here!
Sources:
<1> Why are footballs made with pentagon shapes? - Answered on Quora by Nikhil Kulkarni
<2> Number of Pentagons and Hexagons on a Football - GeekforGeeks
<3> Why do Soccer Balls Have Pentagons? By Samuel Waihenya for SoccerWhizz.
#math #mathstories #story53 #football #worldcup #fan
Have you ever kicked a football? Ever observed the pentagons and hexagons in it? Ever wondered why were those even there? Math doesn’t leave us at all, uh!?
Historically, footballs were built from a combination of hexagonal and pentagonal panels because they fit together like a puzzle to make a completely spherical shape.
Footballs have pentagons and hexagons as part of a 32-panel design that effectively maintains a spherical shape when kicked, and improves aerodynamics as well as close control for players.
The traditional black-and-white color scheme design of the pentagons and hexagons also aids television audiences when it comes to keeping track of ball movement.
32 panels of leather or synthetic plastic are closely stitched together to make up the stitched football. These panels come in two different shapes: hexagons (20) and pentagons (12).
Why 32 panels?
A football with optimum roundness delivers the most reliable aerodynamic (straight flight and controlled bounce). The classic 32-panel construction – which provides a spherical shape – ensures that the ball is able to travel through the air for a longer period of time before encountering significant motion resistance.
In simpler terms, a 32-panel ball is better at retaining a speed that is high and steady for a longer time duration, which ultimately provides a more reliable flight pattern that is immensely valued by football participants.
Modern footballs, on the other hand, are thermally bonded rather than stitched. The manner the panels are joined together distinguishes thermally bonded footballs from their stitched equivalents. Comparatively speaking, this procedure requires a lot less labor than sewing the panels together.
Also, if you are a football fan, do check out story #34 as well here!
Sources:
<1> Why are footballs made with pentagon shapes? - Answered on Quora by Nikhil Kulkarni
<2> Number of Pentagons and Hexagons on a Football - GeekforGeeks
<3> Why do Soccer Balls Have Pentagons? By Samuel Waihenya for SoccerWhizz.
#math #mathstories #story53 #football #worldcup #fan
