Episode 439
Why aren't planes dimpled like golf balls?
If dimpled golf balls fly better, why aren't there dimpled planes?
Question of the Week, from the Naked Scientists
June 15, 20203m 33s
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Show Notes
Darren got in touch to ask us: "Golf balls are dimpled to disrupt the air around the ball. As far as I can gather, this reduces their drag and allows them to fly further than they would if they were perfectly round. Why do we not see dimpled cars, aircraft, and trains? If this effect is so effective for golf balls, why not use it on Formula 1 cars, for instance?"Adam Murphy went looking for a hole-in-one to this question, and spoke to Sam Grimshaw from the Whittle Lab at the University of Cambridge... Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists
Topics
golf ballaerodynamicsaeroplanefluid dynamicssam grimshawuniversity of cambridge