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NBC Learn's "The Science of NFL Football" episode about geometric shapes explores the differences between spheres, ellipses and prolate spheroids, and their impact on the game. The unique shape of the football, for example, contributes the dynamic nature of the ball itself, which can be thrown long distances in a tight spiral or bounce unpredictably on the field of play.
Baseballs, basketballs and many other sports balls rely on a spherical, uniform design that makes them easy to shoot, throw and hit. A football, however, owes its two-dimensional origin to the ellipse rather than the circle, giving the pigskin its prolate spheroid shape, which has a polar axis that is greater than its equatorial diameter. Thanks to its elongated nature, a football will spiral when thrown properly. The spin creates a gyroscopic effect, stabilizing the flight of the ball through the air.
This shape makes the football more difficult throw than a spherical ball. But, as a prolate spheroid, a football experiences less drag as it cuts through the air, which explains why you can toss a football farther than a spherical ball such as a basketball or soccer ball that is roughly the same size and weight. When a football is thrown with a bit of a wobble, as opposed to a tight spiral, it will not travel as far, because it presents more surface area in the direction of flight resulting in a greater degree of air friction, also called drag.
Improving the ball's original design has not proved easy. The best football shape would consider both reduced drag and trajectory stabilization, according to Tony Schmitz, an associate professor in the University of Florida's Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. "Right now, we have the pebbled surface and spiral motion that reduce drag," he says. Any design that "increases these effects could give improved 'flight' performance, but good luck making a significant change." The toy company Hasbro did make some interesting alterations in its Nerf lineup—its Nerf Vortex football has a tail, for example, which improves the distance it travels when thrown. How such a ball would travel when kicked is entirely different issue, of course.
Aircraft, submarines and rockets share the basic design principles as footballs in that their shapes are elongated in an effort to reduce drag. These vehicles are self-powered, however, and must be able to change direction mid-flight, so they cannot use the spinning gyroscopic effect that makes a perfectly thrown spiral such a thing of beauty.
As far as identified flying objects go, however, prolate spheroids cannot match the distance of one class of geometric shape: A flying disc (Frisbee) or ring (Aerobie) not only have slim profiles that reduce drag and rotation that increase stability, but they also create lift, enabling them to carry quite far. On a football field, a well-thrown Aerobie can easily go from end zone to end zone.
FAQs
Aircraft, submarines and rockets share the basic design principles as footballs in that their shapes are elongated in an effort to reduce drag.
What shape is a football called? ›
It is a prolate spheroid, an elongated sphere in which the outer leather casing is drawn tightly over a somewhat smaller rubber tubing. Better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football.
What shapes are used to make a football? ›
Most modern Association footballs are stitched from 32 panels of waterproofed leather or plastic: 12 regular pentagons and 20 regular hexagons. The 32-panel configuration is the spherical polyhedron corresponding to the truncated icosahedron; it is spherical because the faces bulge from the pressure of the air inside.
Is a football an oblate spheroid? ›
A football is a classic example of an oblate spheroid. It has curves, and most of it has either a circular or elliptical cross-section.
Why is football shaped like an ellipse? ›
Unlike many of the balls used in sports, the football is not shaped as a sphere, but is shaped as an ellipse. This particular shape helps the accuracy and distance the ball is thrown. Although the balls are different shapes, the forces acting on a football are similar to those that act on a soccer ball.
Who actually invented football? ›
On April 7, 1859, Walter Chauncey Camp, the “Father of American football,” was born in New Britain, Connecticut. Camp was a gifted athlete who participated in baseball, crew, swimming, tennis, and track.
What nickname is written on every NFL football? ›
Every football ever used in an NFL game since 1941 was hand sewn at the Wilson Sporting Goods factory in Ada, Ohio. The league's signature football, “The Duke” is named after the late New York Giants owner Wellington Mara, whose nickname was Duke.
Is a football a 3d shape? ›
It is nothing other than a sphere. From this we get that football is an example of a sphere. A sphere is a geometrical object in three-dimensional space that is the surface of a ball.
How many footballs are sold a year? ›
Around 40 million footballs are sold each year around the world, making the football industry big business.
Why isn't a football round? ›
The folks at Wilson Sporting Goods tell us changes in the game led to changes in the shape of the ball. In 1906, college football's rules committee approved the use of the forward pass. Players needed a ball that was less round and more aerodynamic. The ball was reshaped from semi-round into a prolate spheroid.
Originally Answered: Why is the football shaped like an oval? It isn't, it's spherical. Rugby Football's are prolate spheroids. This is also the shape of the ball used in some minor sport played in the USA called American Football.
Why is football called football? ›
The story of “football” began with games played on foot, far different from what we witness today. The term was a broad descriptor for various games with the common goal of moving a ball towards a target area, primarily using feet.
Is a football a foot long? ›
Modern footballs are about 12 inches (one “foot") long and about 22 inches in circumference (around) at the center. Many people wonder why they're called "footballs" when most of the game is played with the hands.
What is the word for football shape? ›
A football is a prolate spheroid, and it's shaped that way because that's also the shape of an inflated pig's bladder, which is what the first footballs were made of. Soccer balls were also made of pig's bladders, but as soon as technology permitted, those balls got rounder, which made them easier to kick.
Is football a sphere or circle? ›
A football is an example of sphere. Q.
Is a football round or oval? ›
The folks at Wilson Sporting Goods tell us changes in the game led to changes in the shape of the ball. In 1906, college football's rules committee approved the use of the forward pass. Players needed a ball that was less round and more aerodynamic. The ball was reshaped from semi-round into a prolate spheroid.
