Comparisons between Al Rihla and Oceaunz World Cup Balls
Location
Room 232, Schewel Hall
Access Type
Campus Access Only
Start Date
4-17-2024 10:45 AM
End Date
4-17-2024 11:00 AM
College
Lynchburg College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Physics
Keywords
Aerodynamics, Drag Coefficients, Trajectory
Abstract
The focus of the research was to analyze the aerodynamics of the women’s 2023 World Cup soccer ball as well as chemical properties of paints and glues used on the ball. Starting in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Adidas has deviated from the traditional soccer ball with 20 hexagonal and 12 pentagonal panels. With the decrease in panels used on the ball there have been adjustments to increase seam length and panel texturing on the balls. Balls that are too smooth will have an increased critical speed which can affect the trajectory of the ball especially in the speed range where free kicks and corner kicks occur.
Wind tunnel data was used to compare aerodynamic coefficients and trajectory simulations of the Oceaunz ball used in the 2023 Women’s World Cup with other World Cup balls such as the Al Rihla ball used in the 2022 Men's World Cup. In addition, Adidas has claimed that the Al Rihla and Oceaunz balls are the first to use only water-based paints and glues, making the ball more sustainable. This claim was tested using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy provided by the Chemistry Department at the University of Lynchburg.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Eric Goff, Dr. Price Blair, Dr. Dave Hobart
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Comparisons between Al Rihla and Oceaunz World Cup Balls
Room 232, Schewel Hall
The focus of the research was to analyze the aerodynamics of the women’s 2023 World Cup soccer ball as well as chemical properties of paints and glues used on the ball. Starting in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Adidas has deviated from the traditional soccer ball with 20 hexagonal and 12 pentagonal panels. With the decrease in panels used on the ball there have been adjustments to increase seam length and panel texturing on the balls. Balls that are too smooth will have an increased critical speed which can affect the trajectory of the ball especially in the speed range where free kicks and corner kicks occur.
Wind tunnel data was used to compare aerodynamic coefficients and trajectory simulations of the Oceaunz ball used in the 2023 Women’s World Cup with other World Cup balls such as the Al Rihla ball used in the 2022 Men's World Cup. In addition, Adidas has claimed that the Al Rihla and Oceaunz balls are the first to use only water-based paints and glues, making the ball more sustainable. This claim was tested using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy provided by the Chemistry Department at the University of Lynchburg.