• Question: Who do you think is going to win the Euro's? Why? Also is there any relation between football and science? If so what?

    Asked by KEENO to Stu, Rob, Maheen, Euan, Deborah on 18 Jun 2016. This question was also asked by kianholt42.
    • Photo: Euan Allen

      Euan Allen answered on 18 Jun 2016:

      Hi KEENO.

      I have no idea who will win the Euros, but I can tell you there are many relationships between football and science. For example any football team will have a team doctor, a physio, a nutritionist, perhaps a psychologist. All of these people have studied science, and are using it to conduct the job they are require to do.

      There is also some interesting physics in the actual sport. Here is a question – why does the ball curve in the air when you get it to spin round from a free kick (like Beckham used to)? The answer is that the spinning of the ball makes the air move faster on one side of the ball to the other. This different generates a force across the ball through something called the Magnus effect. This force is what causes the ball to curve in the air! It’s actually very similar physics as to why plane wings generate an upward force.

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