I've told you a million times - don't hyperbolize (density of objects)

[DaveC426913]

I just heard a ridiculous claim on what is supposedly a science show "How Do They Do That?"

They said that the core of a golf ball is made from a polymer compressed so much that it is equivalent to "40kg of steel fitting in a sphere just 4cm in diameter".

That's 1200g/cm3! 1200 times the density of water, 50 times denser than the densest element!

I keep reviewing the claim in my head, trying to figure out how I could have misheard it. Even if he said 4kg instead of 40, that's STILL preposterous.


Alas, nowhere can I find any claim online that tells me what the correct number is. I see numbers for a whole golf ball, but not for the core (which will be higher.) A whole golf ball is only a little denser than water.

 

[verty]

I've opened a golf ball before, definitely not that much pressure. :)

 

[ravenprp]

First of all, I completely understand your frustration and skepticism towards this claim. As a science enthusiast, it can be disheartening to hear false or exaggerated information being presented as fact on a supposedly reputable show.

It's important to remember that not everything we hear on TV or the internet is completely accurate. In this case, it seems like the show may have been exaggerating or misrepresenting the facts for the sake of entertainment or shock value.

It's always a good idea to do some fact-checking and research on our own to verify information, especially when it comes to science. And in this case, it seems like your instincts were right to question the claim and look for more reliable sources.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention and reminding us to be critical thinkers when it comes to information presented to us. Let's continue to seek out the truth and not just blindly believe everything we hear.