Slashdot Mirror
The Physics of Football
Ponca City, We Love You writes "There will be a program on applied physics and real time strategy that you might want to watch on television today. Conservation of momentum during elastic and inelastic collisions is one aspect on which to focus as players tackle their opponents. It is of critical importance that the Patriots bring down New York's huge and powerful running back, 6-foot-4, 265-pound Brandon Jacobs. An average-size NFL defensive back's mass combined with his speed — on average, 4.56 seconds for the 40-yard dash — can produce up to 1600 pounds of tackling force. A tackle with half a ton of force may sound like a crippling blow, but the body can handle twice that amount because the player's equipment spreads out the incoming energy, lessening its severity."
Nanotech specialists from Cornell have developed their own take on the "physics" of the Super Bowl by creating the world's smallest trophy, which will be awarded today to a contestant who best explains an aspect of football physics. Just some food for thought while you watch the game on your brand new HD television, though you'd better not be watching it in a church.
Well your movies, television (and some genres of music) is mostly crap. I can't digest almost anything coming outside of US lately, it's all been going down in quality, idea and performance in last two decades. Unfortunately that kind of media production also seems to be catching up in Europe, so you aren't alone.
While quality stuff seems to be unprofitable. Unfortunately, the 'fun' factor seems to be oveestimated these days, at expense of realism and a good story.
While regarding football, it's just the usual american pride: "We aren't best at it and we don't run that business, so we don't pay much attention to it".
The best part of my post is that those who apply the rugbyforpansies tag have no idea what any of it means ;-)