Comments on: The Physics of Beckham http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/06/23/the-physics-of-beckham/ Sat, 20 Apr 2013 10:44:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Fiddling with the World Cup | Cosmic Variance http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/06/23/the-physics-of-beckham/#comment-17901 Fiddling with the World Cup | Cosmic Variance Sat, 26 Aug 2006 20:38:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/06/23/the-physics-of-beckham/#comment-17901 [...] So a lot of visitors have been coming to CV to read Mark’s post on the Physics of Beckham. What’s more, the rest of the blogosphere is thick with commentary on the World Cup — 3 Quarks Daily has Alex Cooley reporting and Jonathan Kramnick grumbling, the Volokh Conspiracy has David Post enthusing and Todd Zywicki critiquing, and Crooked Timber has been hosting rollicking open threads. Who would have thought that people were interested in soccer? It’ll never be as popular as string theory, but there’s definitely some interest there. [...] [...] So a lot of visitors have been coming to CV to read Mark’s post on the Physics of Beckham. What’s more, the rest of the blogosphere is thick with commentary on the World Cup — 3 Quarks Daily has Alex Cooley reporting and Jonathan Kramnick grumbling, the Volokh Conspiracy has David Post enthusing and Todd Zywicki critiquing, and Crooked Timber has been hosting rollicking open threads. Who would have thought that people were interested in soccer? It’ll never be as popular as string theory, but there’s definitely some interest there. [...]

]]> By: Amara http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/06/23/the-physics-of-beckham/#comment-17910 Amara Mon, 26 Jun 2006 18:13:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/06/23/the-physics-of-beckham/#comment-17910 Did I say the Italians were 'insane' about football? I need another superlative. One doesn't need to own a television here to know when a score was made. Firecrackers, horns, voices spontaneously, simultaneously emerged from my little Castelli Romani town. Deafening. There must be something in the genes... :-) Did I say the Italians were ‘insane’ about football? I need another superlative. One doesn’t need to own a television here to know when a score was made. Firecrackers, horns, voices spontaneously, simultaneously emerged from my little Castelli Romani town. Deafening. There must be something in the genes… :-)

]]> By: Mark http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/06/23/the-physics-of-beckham/#comment-17911 Mark Mon, 26 Jun 2006 17:36:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/06/23/the-physics-of-beckham/#comment-17911 I just added an update linking to the following cool site, in Spanish) http://difusion.df.uba.ar/sabermas/futbol.html I just added an update linking to the following cool site, in Spanish)

http://difusion.df.uba.ar/sabermas/futbol.html

]]> By: chapieau04 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/06/23/the-physics-of-beckham/#comment-17929 chapieau04 Mon, 26 Jun 2006 07:43:26 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/06/23/the-physics-of-beckham/#comment-17929 Dear Mark, as I teach Mathematical Methods of Physics here in Naples, I felt obliged to explain the physics behind those kind of stikes, using a simplified two-dimensional model (plane flow around a cilinder) and conformal maps. You will perfectly understand that I called it the Maradona effect. Best regards Dear Mark,

as I teach Mathematical Methods of Physics here in Naples, I
felt obliged to explain the physics behind those kind of stikes, using
a simplified two-dimensional model (plane flow around a cilinder)
and conformal maps. You will perfectly understand that I called it
the Maradona effect.

Best regards

]]> By: Amara http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/06/23/the-physics-of-beckham/#comment-17928 Amara Mon, 26 Jun 2006 06:16:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/06/23/the-physics-of-beckham/#comment-17928 I used to play a little soccer when I was in my early 20s, so I am far from immune to the thrill of the sport, but now living in Italy, I have not yet understood the level of 'insanity' that people here have towards football/soccer. When national clubs play each other, fans go to the neighborhood of the coach of the opponent's team and spray-paint the street with sloagans and make as much ruckus as they can in the middle of the night to wake everybody up. Probably the more popular or fashionable something is, the more resistant I am at looking at it, so Italy's indulgance saturated me a bit. Therefore, when the World Cup began, I didn't pay attention to the event. Until the last few days. On a short business trip to France last week I read an article on the plane in the June 10 The Economist comparing the World Cup to the Olympics and why the World Cup is 'better'. The article made a strong case that the World Cup is pleasantly divorced from the global pecking order because it has its own hierarchy and reflects a satifying characteristic of the global game. The article said that despite the undoubted prestige to be had by becoming champions of the world, it is extremely hard - if not impossible- for a determined and well-resourced government to create a World Cup-winning team. Moreover, a winning football team needs not just athleticism but also a spark of creativity and style that cannot be manufactured by sport's centeral planners. It is the capacity to surprise that helps make the World Cup such a gripping event. So after my daylong business meeting, I ducked into a cafe to relax, and with a nice coincidence, it was 15 minutes before the start of the France-Togo match. I stayed in that cafe for the entire game watching it with the two French girls running the cafe and experienced for the first time in years, the thrill of the World Cup and with two enthusiastic supporters of their country's team. So now, I must say, 'Thank You, World Cup' for giving all of the world such a wonderful event. I used to play a little soccer when I was in my early 20s, so I am far from immune to the thrill of the sport, but now living in Italy, I have not yet understood the level of ‘insanity’ that people here have towards football/soccer. When national clubs play each other, fans go to the neighborhood of the coach of the opponent’s team and spray-paint the street with sloagans and make as much ruckus as they can in the middle of the night to wake everybody up. Probably the more popular or fashionable something is, the more resistant I am at looking at it, so Italy’s indulgance saturated me a bit. Therefore, when the World Cup began, I didn’t pay attention to the event. Until the last few days.

On a short business trip to France last week I read an article on the plane in the June 10 The Economist comparing the World Cup to the Olympics and why the World Cup is ‘better’. The article made a strong case that the World Cup is pleasantly divorced from the global pecking order because it has its own hierarchy and reflects a satifying characteristic of the global game. The article said that despite the undoubted prestige to be had by becoming champions of the world, it is extremely hard – if not impossible- for a determined and well-resourced government to create a World Cup-winning team. Moreover, a winning football team needs not just athleticism but also a spark of creativity and style that cannot be manufactured by sport’s centeral planners. It is the capacity to surprise that helps make the World Cup such a gripping event.

So after my daylong business meeting, I ducked into a cafe to relax, and with a nice coincidence, it was 15 minutes before the start of the France-Togo match. I stayed in that cafe for the entire game watching it with the two French girls running the cafe and experienced for the first time in years, the thrill of the World Cup and with two enthusiastic supporters of their country’s team. So now, I must say, ‘Thank You, World Cup’ for giving all of the world such a wonderful event.

]]> By: Alan Reifman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/06/23/the-physics-of-beckham/#comment-17927 Alan Reifman Mon, 26 Jun 2006 01:32:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/06/23/the-physics-of-beckham/#comment-17927 The journal <em>American Scientist</em> also just came out with an interesting article on soccer ball design. I briefly discuss this, as well as Mark's post, on my blog (click on my name above). The journal American Scientist also just came out with an interesting article on soccer ball design. I briefly discuss this, as well as Mark’s post, on my blog (click on my name above).

]]> By: Say Lee http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/06/23/the-physics-of-beckham/#comment-17926 Say Lee Sun, 25 Jun 2006 17:14:22 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/06/23/the-physics-of-beckham/#comment-17926 Beckham bent it a few more times today, one of which led to the English fans going wild, including Victoria, in today's game against Ecuador. Beckham bent it a few more times today, one of which led to the English fans going wild, including Victoria, in today’s game against Ecuador.

]]> By: Mark http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/06/23/the-physics-of-beckham/#comment-17925 Mark Sun, 25 Jun 2006 17:14:08 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/06/23/the-physics-of-beckham/#comment-17925 Those of you who are intersted will have seen the latest example of the physics of Beckham today, as his fabulous free kick goal sent England through to the quarter finals. Those of you who are intersted will have seen the latest example of the physics of Beckham today, as his fabulous free kick goal sent England through to the quarter finals.

]]> By: Paul Valletta http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/06/23/the-physics-of-beckham/#comment-17924 Paul Valletta Sat, 24 Jun 2006 04:23:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/06/23/the-physics-of-beckham/#comment-17924 Being born in Wales, we have had to suffer in soccer! Whilst having some great individual soccer palyers, we never Gel as a team. But I LOVE and support "soccer" and am not biased in any way. I enjoy football, I admire good footballers, and if a player "of any nation", shows some exquisite skills on the pitch, I love it. This world cup, has seen the emergence of some interesting players, and football nations I had not heard a lot of, until now. I am rooting for England, I want to see some underdog nation do well, but as far as I can predict the final, I believe it will be the reverse of 1966:England v Germany-score 2-2, Germany wins 4-2 after extratime. 40 years ago it was the other way around, England home nation, 2-2 England won after extra time. About the physics of Beckham, does not the balls "inside pressure" have a lot to do with it motion?..the pressure give the ball weight, the more pressure inside the ball will, according to the accepted Newtonian view?..produce the "less" curved passage from an impact force?..example a lighter ball will curve and bend (a slice-shot) as it will be more affected by the surrounding air presure? Getting the ball to "bend", "slice", "swerve" and generally decieve the goalkeeper whilst in transit, is one of the most spectacular sporting skills in existence, as clearly shown by the amazing Joe Cole goal, and early in the competition, by Germany's Miroslav Klose. Amazing for us football fans! Being born in Wales, we have had to suffer in soccer! Whilst having some great individual soccer palyers, we never Gel as a team. But I LOVE and support “soccer” and am not biased in any way. I enjoy football, I admire good footballers, and if a player “of any nation”, shows some exquisite skills on the pitch, I love it. This world cup, has seen the emergence of some interesting players, and football nations I had not heard a lot of, until now.

I am rooting for England, I want to see some underdog nation do well, but as far as I can predict the final, I believe it will be the reverse of 1966:England v Germany-score 2-2, Germany wins 4-2 after extratime.

40 years ago it was the other way around, England home nation, 2-2 England won after extra time.

About the physics of Beckham, does not the balls “inside pressure” have a lot to do with it motion?..the pressure give the ball weight, the more pressure inside the ball will, according to the accepted Newtonian view?..produce the “less” curved passage from an impact force?..example a lighter ball will curve and bend (a slice-shot) as it will be more affected by the surrounding air presure?

Getting the ball to “bend”, “slice”, “swerve” and generally decieve the goalkeeper whilst in transit, is one of the most spectacular sporting skills in existence, as clearly shown by the amazing Joe Cole goal, and early in the competition, by Germany’s Miroslav Klose.

Amazing for us football fans!

]]> By: damtp_dweller http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/06/23/the-physics-of-beckham/#comment-17923 damtp_dweller Sat, 24 Jun 2006 03:24:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/06/23/the-physics-of-beckham/#comment-17923 Isn't that the goal he scored in Le Tournoi? Isn’t that the goal he scored in Le Tournoi?

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