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

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on a claim made in the science show "How Do They Do That?" regarding the density of a golf ball's core. The claim stated that the core is compressed to a density equivalent to "40kg of steel fitting in a sphere just 4cm in diameter," which translates to an implausible density of 1200g/cm3. This figure is 50 times denser than the densest known element, leading to skepticism about its validity. The user expresses frustration in finding accurate information about the actual density of a golf ball's core, noting that the overall density of a golf ball is only slightly greater than that of water.

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DaveC426913
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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.
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
I've opened a golf ball before, definitely not that much pressure. :)
 

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