How Hard Can You Hit a Golf Ball? (at 100,000 FPS) - Smarter Every Day 216

TL;DR

In this collaboration with Mark Rober, YouTuber and engineer, Smarter Every Day investigates the elastic and plastic deformations of golf balls using the Phantom camera and a vacuum cannon.

Transcript

• Three, two, one. Oh, wow, that was loud! - That was way louder than I thought. - Hey, it's me, Destin. Welcome back to Smarter Every Day. Today's question is fascinating. How hard can you hit a golf ball? That seems like a really simple question, but it's very complex. For example, think about this. When a golf club is swung and it comes in conta... Read More

Key Insights

• 💥 Successful golf ball collisions involve an elastic collision, where the ball squishes and rebounds efficiently without reaching plastic deformation.
• 😥 The vacuum cannon allows researchers to simulate high-velocity impacts and observe the point at which plastic deformation occurs.
• 💥 The design of golf balls determines their ability to absorb energy during collisions and efficiently rebound.
• 💥 Different materials and compositions have varying elastic and plastic curves, influencing the deformations observed in golf ball collisions.
• 🎥 The use of advanced cameras and engineering techniques, such as the Phantom camera and vacuum cannon, enables researchers to gain valuable insights into the behavior of golf balls during impacts.
• 🥳 The collaboration between Smarter Every Day, Mark Rober, and Wix highlights the importance of innovative engineering and technology in scientific investigations.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the difference between elastic and plastic deformation in golf ball collisions?

Elastic deformation occurs when the ball returns to its original shape after being squished, while plastic deformation refers to a permanent change in shape. Different materials have different elastic and plastic curves.

Q: How does the vacuum cannon contribute to understanding the mechanical limits of a golf ball?

By shooting golf balls at high speeds, the vacuum cannon simulates the impact forces observed during golf ball collisions, allowing researchers to observe the point at which plastic deformation occurs.

Q: How does golf ball design impact the collision behavior of the ball?

Golf balls are designed to absorb as much energy as possible during a collision without reaching the plastic deformation zone. The rebound efficiency is crucial in maximizing distance and velocity.

Q: Does the age and composition of a golf ball affect its mechanical limits?

Older golf balls may have different mechanical properties and may be more susceptible to plastic deformation compared to modern ones. By testing an older ball, the team aims to explore this possibility.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Using the Phantom camera, the host attempts to squish a golf ball to investigate at what point it transitions from elastic to plastic deformation.

• The Happy Gilmore technique is employed to achieve harder hits, but consistency and club speed remain challenges.

• In collaboration with Mark Rober, a vacuum cannon is built to shoot a golf ball at high speed, revealing that the modern golf balls can withstand impacts up to 300mph before plastic deformation occurs.