How would you play football on Mars?
A trio of University of Leicester undergraduates have studied just that, looking at how the reduced Martian gravity and light conditions would alter the dynamics of a football game.
In what is effectively a very limited (2-page) study, the authors primarily look at how the reduced Martian gravity and atmosphere would mean that not only ‘hit’ footballs would travel four times the distance on Earth, but that the lack of air resistance would reduce the player’s ability to ‘bend’ the ball. The surface conclusion is that this would require a different set of skills than that of playing football on Earth, although I would argue against the authors’ point that it would require a reduced set of skills.
You can read the full study here – my main counter-points are as follows:
When football makes it to Mars, it will more than survive. It will, most likely, evolve and thrive in the same way football technology has evolved in the last four to six decades in response to demands for speed, flexibility and lightness.
Football on Mars? Sign me up.
Add Sportslens to your Google News Feed!
