When a pitcher throws a knuckle ball, their knuckles are what touches the ball, not their fingertips. And when they release the ball, because their fingertips aren't touching the ball, there's less chance for it to rotate. So this is a total replication of pitcher hitter. If that goalkeeper has the same scenario, I don't know where this is going up, down, left, or right.
What physics are at play in The FIFA World Cup? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chuck Nice, and Gary O’Reilly explore all the science of soccer with physics professor John Eric Goff. Is this year’s official ball made for scoring goals?
NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: https://startalkmedia.com/show/physics-of-the-2022-world-cup-with-john-eric-goff/
Photo Credit: Korea.net / Korean Culture and Information Service (Photographer name), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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