ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel SmarterEveryDay How Hard Can You Hit a Golf Ball? (at 100,000 FPS) – Smarter Every Day 216
Welcome to Smarter Every Day! Today, we’re diving into a fascinating question: How hard can you hit a golf ball? It might sound simple, but there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye. When a golf club hits a ball, something called an elastic collision happens. This means the ball gets squished and then bounces back to its original shape.
Let’s break it down: At what point does the ball stop bouncing back to its original shape? This is where we talk about elastic and plastic deformation. Elastic deformation is when the ball returns to its shape, while plastic deformation is when it stays squished. To explore this, we used a super cool Phantom camera to see how much the ball can be compressed.
To hit the ball as hard as possible, I teamed up with engineer Mark Rober. He’s famous for creating amazing gadgets to solve tricky problems. Together, we built two awesome devices to test our question.
First, we made a rocket-powered golf club. This club could swing faster than any pro golfer, but we still couldn’t reach the limits of the golf ball. So, we flipped the idea: instead of hitting the ball with the club, we hit the club with the ball using a vacuum cannon!
The vacuum cannon is a cool invention that creates a vacuum inside a tube. When air rushes in, it pushes the golf ball down the barrel at over 500 miles per hour! Our goal was to get rid of air resistance and hit maximum speed.
We also tested an old golf ball from 1962-1987 to see if it would react differently under extreme conditions. We wanted to shoot a golf ball at 500 miles per hour against a driver to see what would happen.
Through our experiments, we learned that modern golf balls can handle impacts up to about 300 miles per hour without changing shape too much. But at higher speeds, they start to deform permanently.
Our tests showed that golf balls are designed to absorb and release energy efficiently during collisions. We even tried hitting a watermelon with a golf ball to see how it would behave at high speeds!
This fun project was sponsored by Wix, a platform for creating websites. Mark and I talked about how easy it is to make a professional-looking website using their templates.
Thanks for joining us on this exciting journey! Don’t forget to check out Mark Rober’s channel for more amazing engineering content.
Conduct a simple experiment using rubber balls and clay. Drop both from the same height and observe how they deform upon impact. Discuss with your classmates which one exhibits elastic deformation and which one shows plastic deformation. Record your observations and explain why each material behaves differently.
Work in groups to design a model of a golf club using household materials. Consider factors like weight, length, and material. Present your design to the class, explaining how it would maximize the speed and force of a golf ball hit. Use your understanding of physics to justify your choices.
Create a simple simulation of a vacuum cannon using a balloon and a straw. Blow up the balloon, attach it to one end of the straw, and release it to see how air pressure can propel objects. Discuss how this relates to the vacuum cannon used in the article and what factors affect the speed of the golf ball.
Research the history of golf ball design from 1962 to the present. Create a timeline that highlights key changes in materials and technology. Present your findings to the class, explaining how these changes have affected the performance of golf balls in terms of speed and deformation.
Use a Newton’s cradle to demonstrate the concept of energy transfer during collisions. Observe how the balls transfer energy to each other and relate this to how a golf ball absorbs and releases energy when hit. Discuss how this principle is important in the design of golf balls and clubs.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript, removing any informal language, laughter, and unnecessary details while maintaining the core content:
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– Three, two, one. Welcome back to Smarter Every Day. Today’s question is: How hard can you hit a golf ball? This question may seem simple, but it’s quite complex. When a golf club strikes a ball, an elastic collision occurs, causing the ball to deform and then rebound.
We can rephrase the question: At what point does the ball stop returning to its original shape? This transition from elastic to plastic deformation is crucial. To investigate this, I decided to use a Phantom camera to observe how much the ball can be compressed.
To improve my swing speed, I collaborated with engineer Mark Rober. He is known for designing intricate devices that answer complex questions. Together, we built two devices to explore our problem.
We created a rocket-powered golf club, which allowed us to swing the club much faster than a professional golfer. However, we still didn’t reach the mechanical limits of the golf ball. Instead of hitting the ball with the club, we decided to hit the club with the ball using a vacuum cannon that can propel a golf ball at incredible speeds.
The vacuum cannon works by creating a vacuum inside a tube, allowing air to rush in and push the golf ball down the barrel at speeds exceeding 500 miles per hour. We aimed to eliminate drag to achieve maximum velocity.
To further explore the limits of golf balls, we tested an old golf ball from 1962-1987. We hypothesized that it would behave differently under extreme conditions. Our goal was to shoot a golf ball at 500 miles per hour against a driver to observe the results.
We also conducted tests with various materials to understand elastic and plastic deformation. We found that modern golf balls can handle impacts up to about 300 miles per hour without significant deformation, but at higher speeds, plastic deformation occurs.
In our experiments, we discovered that the design of golf balls allows them to absorb energy during collisions and release it efficiently. We also tested the golf ball’s interaction with a watermelon to see how it would behave at high speeds.
This collaboration was sponsored by Wix, a platform for creating websites. Mark and I discussed how easy it is to build a clean and professional-looking website using their templates.
Thank you for watching this collaboration. Be sure to check out Mark Rober’s channel for more engineering content.
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This version maintains the essence of the original transcript while removing informalities and extraneous details.
Golf – A sport where players use clubs to hit a small ball into a series of holes on a course in as few strokes as possible – In physics class, we studied how the angle and force of a swing in golf can affect the distance the ball travels.
Ball – A spherical object used in various games and sports, often studied in physics for its motion and forces – The engineer calculated the trajectory of the ball to ensure it would land in the target area.
Elastic – Describes a material that returns to its original shape after being stretched or compressed – The elastic band snapped back to its original length after being stretched, demonstrating its elastic properties.
Collision – An event where two or more objects come into contact with force – During the experiment, we observed the collision between two carts and measured the forces involved.
Deformation – A change in the shape or size of an object due to an applied force – The engineer studied the deformation of the metal beam under heavy loads to ensure it was safe for construction.
Engineer – A professional who designs, builds, or maintains engines, machines, or structures – The engineer used physics principles to design a bridge that could withstand strong winds and heavy traffic.
Vacuum – A space entirely devoid of matter, including air – In the vacuum chamber, we observed how objects fall at the same rate without air resistance.
Experiment – A scientific procedure undertaken to test a hypothesis or demonstrate a known fact – The students conducted an experiment to see how different surfaces affect the speed of a rolling ball.
Speed – The rate at which an object moves, calculated as distance divided by time – We measured the speed of the car as it traveled down the ramp to understand how gravity affects motion.
Design – The process of planning and creating something with a specific function or intention – The students worked on a design for a simple machine that could lift a small weight using pulleys.
