Science & Mathematics Aerodynamics

[Caesar]

Golf balls are dimpled because they fly further than a perfectly smooth ball, due to the design being more efficient.

Why is this technology limited to golfballs? Why aren't things like jet aircraft, racecars etc. built with dimpled rather than smooth surfaces? Would this technology be applicable to other kinds of fluid dynamics (e.g. hulls on racing yachts)?

I'm sure there's a good explanation but I've never heard it.

 

[Mooster7]

It has to do with a golf ball being a sphere. Anything moving through air is going to have resistance from friction and drag, but a sphere has a special problem with pressure drag which shapes like airplane wings and yacht hulls do not have. The dimples decrease the pressure drag by making the air flow around the ball more effeciently. Non spherical shapes dont' need the dimples because their own peculiar problems with overcoming resistance don't involve the same sort of pressure drag.

The real questoin is why don't they come up with a more efficient dimple? Or aerodynamic golf clubs which deliver a perfect swing? I'll get cracking on those once I work out how to load my own dragon breath shotgun shells.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon's_Breath

Priorities, ya know?

Peace,

 

[omit]

[youtube]XVV_COOey0E[/youtube]

 

[swiftdog]

The sharkskin swimming suits use the same principles I believe.

 

[darcytiger]

they made a golf ball dimple car on mythbusters - can't remember what happened. watch for yourself

[youtube]nufXpDBELdQ[/youtube]

 

[rossi]

That's pretty cool - an 11% better fuel efficiency with the dimpled car.