Morphable surfaces cut air resistance: Golf ball-like dimples on cars may improve fuel efficiency
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - 13:00
in Physics & Chemistry
There is a story about how the modern golf ball, with its dimpled surface, came to be: In the mid-1800s, it is said, new golf balls were smooth, but became dimpled over time as impacts left permanent dents. Smooth new balls were typically used for tournament play, but in one match, a player ran short, had to use an old, dented one, and realized that he could drive this dimpled ball much further than a smooth one.